Airmen Against the Sea An Analysis of Sea Survival Experiences

Airmen Against The Sea is a study of how military personnel survived under emergency conditions in the sea. It is not a water survival manual, but is a factual report of what happened to men who bailed out or ditched at sea, and whose only refuge for days on end was a rubber liferaft. Under such topical headings as bailout versus ditching, survival equipment, the liferaft, food, hazards, injuries, morale, and many others, the experiences of the survivors themselves are emphasized. The result is a new and fresh insight into the problems of survival at sea which will be of interest to all those who fly over water, and of particular value to those concerned directly with rescue operations, with water survival training, and with the development of survival material. Dr. George A. Llano, project officer for this study, has had first-had knowledge of survival at sea. He survived for 2 days on a liferaft in the Straits of Florida, and during World War II was engaged in field-testing sea survival equipment and liferafts for the USAF Air Proving Ground Command.. Dr. Llano consulted numerous sources in compiling factual information on the actions and activities of successful survivors.