P-51D and anti-G suit system

[happymeal]

I recently became aware that USAAF fighter pilots used G-suits or anti-G suits starting mid-1944. And started researching that subject. How the anti-G suits were developped is fairly well documented. What I have a hard time finding is when exactly and how was fitted the pressured air system to inflate those anti-g suits in P-51Ds (and P-47s…). Was it a field mod or factory build ? I read here and there that 357th FG and 4th FG tested the anti-G suits, but can not find detailed infos on when and how… so, calling the P-51 experts, as well as the 357th FG and 4th FG experts !

[Noha307]

It just so happens I stumbled across a page on the Flight Test Historical Foundation website the other day that is all about the pressure suits in their collection. While it's not exactly what you're looking for, the level of detail suggests to me that someone there might be an expert on the subject who could answer your question.

A search of DTIC also produced this detail:

A total of 22 Berger Bros. pneumatic gradient pressure suits and 22 hydraulic Franks flying suits were flight tested by 26 pilots of the 9th Air Force in P-47 and P-51 aircraft. Complete visual protection was obtained with both suits.

(Source: Agnes S. Burt, "Annotated Bibliography on the Physiological Effects of Acceleration in Aircraft" (Pensacola, Florida: Naval Aerospace Medical Research Lab, 1 September 1945), 11.)

So, I would try searching for Berger Brothers and Franks. If you could find a patent, that might contain some information.

It looks like the book Combat Flying Equipment by C. G. Sweeting has much of the information you seek. For example, it states:

Twenty-two of the Berger Brothers prototype GPS outfits, along with equipment for the aircraft, were taken to the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces in England in December 1943, by Capt. George L. Maison, MC, Chief of the Acceleration Unit of the Aero Medical Laboratory.

(Source: C. G. Sweeting, Combat Flying Equipment: U.S. Army Aviators’ Personal Equipment, 1917-1945 (Shrewsbury: Airlife, 1989), 154.)

(As an aside, I tried searching "George L. Maison" and discovered he also invented the asthma inhaler![1])

It also quotes Chuck Yeager as stating:

We were equipped with anti-G-suits after invasion, about 1944.

(Source: C. G. Sweeting, Combat Flying Equipment: U.S. Army Aviators’ Personal Equipment, 1917-1945 (Shrewsbury: Airlife, 1989), 145.)

However, note that the first G-suits were actually deployed by the British:

The first use of an anti-G-suit in combat occurred in November 1942, when fighter pilots of the British Navy Fleet Air Arm used the Mark II FFS in action over Oran, Algeria.

(Source: C. G. Sweeting, Combat Flying Equipment: U.S. Army Aviators’ Personal Equipment, 1917-1945 (Shrewsbury: Airlife, 1989), 151.)

[Duggy009]

Lots here -- LINK - http://axis-and-allies-paintworks.com/e ... 8#post-338

[happymeal]

Noha307, many thanks ! It happens I received some NARA documentations citing what you quoted. Don Gentile, for example, tried both hydraulic and air anti-suit during that trial. I was also sent a wealth of period reports from RCAF and RAAF trials. It is fascinating… the side that I ammissing, is the technical one of the ani-g air systel on P-47 and P-51. The principle is described = special G-controled valve connected on the outlet of the vacuum pump, but I have not seen any mention about how it was implemented in the field during trials. I guess field mod, but I would happily read some instructions about it. It looks from the P-51 manual that it became factory implemented rather late in the P-51D production.

[happymeal]

Duggy009, many thanks ! I had already most of these pictures… except for a couple that are a welcome addition !