JAMES W. TURNBOW

Enshrined 2005

The father of aircraft crashworthiness analysis andinvestigation, Dr. James Turnbow began developing his specialty while serving in theordinance department of the United States Army during World War II.  There he was charged with the task ofdeveloping ways to air drop larger loads of food, supplies, trucks, tanks, andequipment without destroying most or all of the payloads.  He learned to counteract the crash forces bycreating cushioning solutions that could absorb the energy of a violentimpact. His engineering skills laterassisted in the development of some key aircraft components. This body of work is now known as the U.S.Governments’ five volume, Aircraft Crash Survival Guide and is the world’sprimary reference on this subject. Anaccomplished aviator in both gliders and general aviation aircraft, Doc was anactive member of the Civil Air Patrol.