Thursday 29 November 2012

Welcome to my blog

Dear Readers

I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my new blog that focuses on the history of military aviation medicine, with particular reference to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.  I have tried blogging  before but my content area was far too narrow, which meant that I was quickly running out of things to talk about!  I believe that the field of military aviation medicine is broad enough to warrant a blog of its own and I hope you will find some of my posts thought-provoking.

My name is Lynsey Shaw and I am a second year doctoral student at Wolfson College, University of Oxford.  My thesis focuses on the adminstration, organisation, and therapeutic practices of Royal Air Force neuropsychiatrists in the Second World War.  Being an historian of military medicine is particularly fun, as it allows me to engage with fellow medical historians but also to indulge my passion for British military history, which has allowed me to meet some wonderful military historians and to engage with fascinating primary sources! Neuropsychiatry was a fundamental branch of the RAF Medical Services, which emphasised the importance of prevention and the specialisation of medicine during the conflict.  Naturally, my research has allowed me to engage with broader themes in the history of military aviation medicine, which ultimately contributed to the knowledge, theories, and practices of medical practitioners in the Royal Air Force.  I hope to update this blog at least once a week and that you, the reader, will comment and give me some constructive feedback.

I hope to have my first proper post written by Monday, so until then, I hope you have a wonderful weekend (it is nearly here!).

Very best wishes

Lynsey

5 comments:

  1. Welcome. I am looking forward to some interesting posts (No pressure)

    Ross

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    1. I hope to meet your expectations dear Ross! You can give me tips at Christmas drinks. I think I can learn from a serial blogger like you! Future plans include high altitude physiology and aviation medicine; flying accidents in the early twentieth century, and the usual screaming about structure and methodology! Unfortunately, you will have to put up with my Oscar Wilde style musings, poor grammar, and spelling mistakes haha.

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    2. Lynsey,

      Have you seen the following article in the Journal of the Royal Air Force Historical Society, 'The Genesis of Medical Selection Tests for Aircrew in the United Kingdom' by Air Commodore T.M. Gibson?

      Ross

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  2. That sounds really interesting. I have a personal interest as my late father was an RAF psychiatrist (later than the period you're interested in, though - 1950s.)

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  3. I really hope I will meet your expectations. Your father worked at a time when major psychiatric research was occurring within the RAF. World War Two was a mere starting point, the 50s and 60s was when it all happened.

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