Grundriß der Luftfahrtmedizin
Publisher Information: Leipzig: J. A. Barth, 1939.
Ruff, Siegfried (1907-89) and Hubertus Strughold (1898-1986). Grundriß der Luftfahrtmedizin. viii, [2], 190pp. Text illustrations. Leipzig: Johann Ambrosius Barth, 1939. 231 x 1157 mm. Original cloth, dust-jacket (a bit soiled and chipped). Very good. Presentation Copy, Inscribed on the front free endpaper: “Herrn Ministerialdirigent Bäumker von den Verfassern ergebenst überreicht. 11.7.39.” Bookplate of urologist Noble Suydam Rustum Maluf (1913-2011).
First Edition. A compendium of aerospace medicine during the Nazi regime. This copy was presented to Adolf Bäumker (1891-1976), chief of research and development at the Luftwaffe when it was published in 1939. After World War II Bäumker turned over a complete history of German rocket development to the U.S. government and became an American citizen, emigrating to the U.S. under Project Paperclip.
Ruff and Strughold both held important positions in the Nazi government, Ruff serving as director of the Aviation Medicine Department at the German Experimental Institute for Aviation, and Strughold as chief of aeromedical research for the Luftwaffe. After World War II Ruff remained in Germany but Strughold came to the United States as part of Project Paperclip, holding a series of high-ranking positions with both the U.S. Air Force and NASA. He played an important role in designing the pressure suit and the onboard life support systems used by both the Gemini and Apollo astronauts, and became known as the “Father of Space Medicine” for his role in pioneering the study of the physical and psychological effects of manned space flight. Such was the reputation of both authors that Grundriß der Luftfahrtmedizin went through three editions, the last in 1957—highly unusual for a publication that originated in Nazi research centers. Garrison-Morton.com 7174.
Book Id: 45486Price: $1,500.00