George F. Bond
George Foote Bond, MD | |
---|---|
Navy Commendation Medal, Legion of Merit with two gold stars |
Captain George Foote Bond (November 14, 1915 – January 3, 1983) was a United States Navy physician who was known as a leader in the field of undersea and hyperbaric medicine and the "Father of Saturation Diving".[1][2]
While serving as Officer-in-Charge at the Naval Medical Research Laboratory in Groton, Connecticut, he conducted his earliest experiments into saturation diving techniques. In 1957, Bond began the Genesis project to prove that humans could in fact withstand prolonged exposure to different
The first two phases of Project Genesis involved exposing animals to saturation in various breathing gases.[3] In 1962, interest in helium-oxygen atmospheres for crewed space flights made Phase C possible.[2] Phase C involved saturation of three subjects at one atmosphere (surface) in a 21.6% oxygen, 4% nitrogen, and 74.4% helium environment for six days.[2][4] In phase D experiments at the United States Navy Experimental Diving Unit in 1963,[4] the subjects performed the world's first saturation dive at a depth of 100 feet of seawater (fsw) in a 7% oxygen, 7% nitrogen, and 86% helium environment for 6 days.[4] In phase E trials in 1963 divers were saturated for 12 days at 198 fsw breathing 3.9% oxygen, 6.5% nitrogen and 89.6% helium.[4] A 27-hour linear ascent was made from saturation.[4][5]
"Papa Topside" Bond initiated and served as the Senior Medical Officer and
Early life
George Foote Bond was born November 14, 1915, in Willoughby, Ohio, to Robert and Louise Foot Bond.[1] Bond received a Bachelor and Master of Arts from the University of Florida in 1939.[1] While a student at UF, he became a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.[12] He then attended medical school at McGill University where he completed his medical training in surgery in 1945.[1] Bond performed his internship at the Memorial Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina.[1] In 1946, Bond established a rural medical practice in Bat Cave, North Carolina.[1] Seeing a need in the community, Bond established the Valley Clinic and Hospital in 1948.[1] Bond was recognized by the community as "Doctor of the Year" in 1953. The people of the area showed their affection towards Bond when he appeared on the national television show This Is Your Life on June 22, 1955.[1][13]
Bond entered active Navy service in 1953.[1] Soon after he qualified as a Diving and Submarine Medical Officer and served as Squadron Medical Officer from 1954 to 1958.[1] Later that year, Bond transferred to the Naval Medical Research Laboratory in Groton, Connecticut, where he served as the Officer-in-Charge until 1964.[1] It was during this time that Bond conducted his earliest experiments into saturation diving techniques.[1]
On October 2, 1959, approximately 15 miles southwest of Key West, Commander Bond and Chief Engineman Cyril Tuckfield safely completed a 52-second, 302-foot buoyant ascent from the forward
Project Genesis
Genesis was conducted in phases. In 1957 and 1958, the first two phases (A and B) involved exposing animals to saturation in various breathing gases.[3] The experiments are summarized in the table below:
Phase | Animal | Depth | Duration | Breathing Gas | Results |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A1 | Wistar rats |
198 fsw [note 2] | 35 hours | Air | Rats all died, attributed to oxygen toxicity |
A2 | Wistar rats |
198 fsw | 14 days | 3% Oxygen/ 97% Nitrogen | 15 of 16 animals survived, lung lesions found in survivors[15] |
A3 | Wistar rats |
1.5 ATA [note 3] | 35 hours | Oxygen | Rats all died |
B1 | Wistar rats |
1 ATA | 16 days | 20% Oxygen/ 80% Helium | All survived |
B2 | Wistar rats |
200 fsw | 14 days | 3% Oxygen/ 97% Helium | All survived |
B3 | Wistar rats, Goat, Squirrel monkey |
200 fsw | 14 days | 3% Oxygen/ 97% Helium | All survived |
Once the animal work was completed, Bond proposed offering "the opportunity for development of ecological systems which would permit man, as a free agent, to live and work to depths at 600 feet, and for periods in excess of 30 days."[2] This proposal was rejected but in 1962, interest in helium-oxygen atmospheres for crewed space flights made Phase C possible.[2]
Phase D experiments were conducted at the
Bond returned the team to the Naval Medical Research Laboratory for the Phase E trials in 1963.[4] The divers were John C. Bull, Jr., Robert A. Barth, and Sanders W. Manning.[4] They were saturated for 12 days at 198 fsw breathing 3.9% oxygen, 6.5% nitrogen and 89.6% helium.[4] The temperature and voice communications problems continued with communications with the surface being virtually impossible.[4] A 27-hour linear ascent was made from saturation.[4][5]
Bond summarized the Genesis experiments:[15]
|
The Genesis chamber is still in use as a research facility today at the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory.[16]
SEALAB
Following the success of the Genesis Project,
SEALAB I was lowered off the coast of
SEALAB II was launched in 1965 to assess the feasibility of utilizing saturation techniques and tools "to remain deep beneath the ocean surface indefinitely and accomplish a variety of tasks that would be difficult or impossible to accomplish by repeated dives from the surface."[6] It was placed in the La Jolla Canyon off the coast of California, at a depth of 205 fsw. On August 28, 1965, the first of three teams of divers moved into what became known as the "Tilton Hilton" (Tiltin' Hilton, because of the slope of the landing site). Unlike SEALAB I, it also included hot showers and refrigeration. Each team spent 15 days in the habitat, but aquanaut/astronaut Scott Carpenter remained below for a record 30 days. In addition to physiological testing, the divers tested new tools, methods of salvage, and an electrically heated drysuit.[7][8] One case of decompression sickness was treated by Dr. Bond.[17]
SEALAB III used a refurbished SEALAB II habitat, but was placed in water three times as deep. Five teams of nine
Memberships, awards, and recognition
Bond was decorated with a
The US Navy dedicated the new Ocean Simulation Facility at the United States Navy Experimental Diving Unit in honor of Dr. Bond in 1974.[2]
Bond served on the first Board of Advisors for the National Association of Underwater Instructors.[19]
Bond's leadership helped establish the Man-In-The-Sea Museum in 1977 with a goal to preserve the history of undersea exploration.[20]
Death
Bond died on January 3, 1983.[1] He is buried in Bat Cave, North Carolina.
See also
References
- ^ ISSN 0889-0242.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Murray, John (2005). ""Papa Topside", Captain George F. Bond, MC, USN" (PDF). Faceplate. 9 (1): 8–9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
- ^ a b Workman, Robert D; Bond, George F; Mazzone, Walter F (1967). "Prolonged exposure of animals to pressurized normal and synthetic atmospheres". Naval Submarine Medical Research Lab Technical Report (NSMRL-374). Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ ISBN 1-886699-01-1.
- ^ PMID 5929310.
- ^ a b "SEALAB II A Summary Report". URG Bulletin. 1965. Archived from the original on 2009-10-03. Retrieved 2010-01-17.
- ^ ISBN 0-89197-191-2.
- ^ PMID 4382569.
- ^ a b Kuling, JW; Summitt, JK (1970). "Saturation Dives, with Excursions, for the Development of a Decompression Schedule for Use during SEALAB III". Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine Technical Report. NEDU-RR-9-70. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved 2010-01-17.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b Crowley, RW; Summitt, JK (1970). "Report of Experimental Dives for SEALAB III Surface Support Decompression Schedules". US Navy Experimental Diving Unit Technical Report. NEDU-RR-15-70. Archived from the original on March 6, 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-17.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b Searle, Willard F; Kunz, HS (1969). "Test procedures for supervisor of salvage sponsored work projects for Sealab III". Deep Submergence Systems, Office of Naval Research.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ The Seminole Yearbook. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida. 1934–1935.
- ^ Davidson, Jim (2005). "This Is Your Life: Radio and TV Episode List". Classic TV Info. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
- .
- ^ PMID 14172781.
- ^ Daniel, J Christopher (2006). "Leveraging Biomedical Knowledge to Enhance Homeland Defense, Submarine Medicine and Warfighter Performance at Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory". CHIPS Magazine. 24 (1). Space & Naval Warfare Systems Center. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) reprinted as NSMRL Technical Report Number 1245 - ^ Bladh, Jim; Ruden, Pete (2005). "One Navy Diver's "Most Excellent" Adventure" (PDF). Faceplate. 9 (1): 10–14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
- ISBN 0-684-87213-7
- ^ Tillman, Albert A; Tillman, Thomas T. "The history of NAUI" (PDF). Scuba America Historical Foundation. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ "About Man in the Sea Museum". Man in the Sea Museum. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
Footnotes
- ^ table adapted from Miller and Koblick
- atmospheresabsolute (ATA) or 700 kPa
- atmospheres absolute; an ambient pressureof 1.5 ATA (150 kPa) represents approximately 17 feet of sea water
Bibliography
- LCCN 99-32021.
- Bond, George F.; Siiteri, Helen A. (1993). Papa Topside: The Sealab Chronicles of Capt. George F. Bond, USN. ISBN 1-55750-795-3.
- Bunton, William J. (2000). Death of an Aquanaut. LCCN 99-66260.
- Hellwarth, Ben (2012). Sealab: America's Forgotten Quest to Live and Work on the Ocean Floor. LCCN 2011015725.