Title
Metal from Salvaged Planes Used to Make Lightweight Braces at Northington General Hospital
Subject
Northington General Hospital
World War II
Description
Splints and spinal braces made in Northington's Orthopedic Brace Shop are a third their former weight. The weight-reducing material is an aluminum alloy which replaces steel in the older and heavier brace.
From three salvaged airplane wings donated by the Aeronautical Engineering Department of the University of Alabama, a 1000-pound supply of the precious alloy has been provided to the hospital.
Pictured dismanteling the salvaged wings are CE Tom Clements in foreground (left) and Pfc. Rodolph Dow and on the upright wing Pvt. Roy Thomas (left) and Pfc. Primo Ronca.
The far-reaching effect of substituting a light-weight aluminum alloy for steel in orthopedic braces may be gauged from the statement of Maj. Gen. Norman E. Kirk, Surgeon General of the United States Army, that we may expect 60 per cent of our battle casualties to be orthopedic.
From three salvaged airplane wings donated by the Aeronautical Engineering Department of the University of Alabama, a 1000-pound supply of the precious alloy has been provided to the hospital.
Pictured dismanteling the salvaged wings are CE Tom Clements in foreground (left) and Pfc. Rodolph Dow and on the upright wing Pvt. Roy Thomas (left) and Pfc. Primo Ronca.
The far-reaching effect of substituting a light-weight aluminum alloy for steel in orthopedic braces may be gauged from the statement of Maj. Gen. Norman E. Kirk, Surgeon General of the United States Army, that we may expect 60 per cent of our battle casualties to be orthopedic.
Source
Personal Collection of Whitney Telle
Publisher
Northington General Hospital News
Date
July 21, 1944
Type
Newspaper
Identifier
59
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Text
Northington General Hospital News
Original Format
Newspaper