USAF Scientific Advisory Board
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) is a military unit that provides forecasts of long-range science and technology.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) is a military unit that provides forecasts of long-range science and technology.
Chronology
- 1944 August 6/7: Arnold met with Theodore von KármánTheodore von KarmanTheodore von Kármán was a Hungarian-American mathematician, aerospace engineer and physicist who was active primarily in the fields of aeronautics and astronautics. He is responsible for many key advances in aerodynamics, notably his work on supersonic and hypersonic airflow characterization...
on the LaGuardia airportLaGuardia AirportLaGuardia Airport is an airport located in the northern part of Queens County on Long Island in the City of New York. The airport is located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay, and borders the neighborhoods of Astoria, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst. The airport was originally...
tarmac to request he head the Army Air Force Long Range Development Program. Similar to his establishment of the Bell/GE jet engine team in 1941, the establishment of the advisory program was totally secret. - 1944 October 23: von KármánTheodore von KarmanTheodore von Kármán was a Hungarian-American mathematician, aerospace engineer and physicist who was active primarily in the fields of aeronautics and astronautics. He is responsible for many key advances in aerodynamics, notably his work on supersonic and hypersonic airflow characterization...
designated AAF consultant on scientific matters. - 1944 November 7: Arnold provided official written instructions for the AAF Consulting Board for Future Research (AAFCBFR) formed (renamed Army Air Force Science Advisory Group, SAG on December 1)
- Original members: Dr. Theodore von KármánTheodore von KarmanTheodore von Kármán was a Hungarian-American mathematician, aerospace engineer and physicist who was active primarily in the fields of aeronautics and astronautics. He is responsible for many key advances in aerodynamics, notably his work on supersonic and hypersonic airflow characterization...
, Dr. Ivan A. GettingIvan A. GettingIvan Alexander Getting was an American physicist and electrical engineer, credited with the development of the Global Positioning System...
, Mr. Chester Hasert
- Original members: Dr. Theodore von Kármán
- 1944 November 23: Karman's first report published for the SAG
- 1945 May 1: The "von KármánTheodore von KarmanTheodore von Kármán was a Hungarian-American mathematician, aerospace engineer and physicist who was active primarily in the fields of aeronautics and astronautics. He is responsible for many key advances in aerodynamics, notably his work on supersonic and hypersonic airflow characterization...
mission" the SAG portion -- a small part of Operation LustyOperation LustyOperation LUSTY was the United States Army Air Forces effort to capture and evaluate German aeronautical technology during and after World War II.- Overview :During World War II, the U.S...
-- arrived in Paris to inspect enemy laboratories and included Hugh Dryden (deputy), H. Guyford Stever (in place of Dr. L. Dubridge who was unavailable), H. S. Tsien - 1945 July 13: von KármánTheodore von KarmanTheodore von Kármán was a Hungarian-American mathematician, aerospace engineer and physicist who was active primarily in the fields of aeronautics and astronautics. He is responsible for many key advances in aerodynamics, notably his work on supersonic and hypersonic airflow characterization...
met Arnold in Paris after having traveled Europe - 1945 July 30: Summary of von Karman memo (initial report) to Arnold documenting SAG's travel's to that point.
- 1946 February 6: last formal meeting of the AAF SAG, with Meritorious Civilian Service Awards presented to members
- 1946 June 17: first meeting of the newly formed Scientific Advisory Board
- "It was the clamor of ICBM development which finally established the Scientific Advisory Board as an independent entity"
- 1946 August 29: Scientific Advisory Board forwarded its first set of program recommendations to General Spaatz.
- 1948 May 14: Scientific Advisory Board charter (AFR 20-30) approved by Spaatz-Karman
- 1949 July 11: Ridenour Committee first meeting prior to touring/reviewing Air Force facilities
- 1949 September 21: Ridenour/Doolittle Report approved
- 1949 November 3: Scientific Advisory Board Special Committee meeting
- 1953: Scientific Advisory Board Nuclear Weapons Panel (von Neumann committee) formed after the November 1952 "Mike shot"
- 1953 March 30: Scientific Advisory Board Executive Committee meeting
- 1960s: Scientific Advisory Board studies initiated to examine satellite navigation.
- 1994 November 9–10: USAF Scientific Advisory Board Commemorative History
- 1995 December 15: USAF science and technology forecast New World Vistas briefing of draft report (SECAF conference room)