1946 Press Photo Phillip Babbington Tests Navy Crash Harness, Maryland

A new type of crash harness, made from specially-processed, undrawn nylon, was demonstrated by the Naval Medical Research Institute on June 20th. The lightweight harness, a vest-like covering for the upper parts of the body, can withstand, without stretching, it can withstand an impact of more than 10,000 pounds -- which is equivalent to a plane crashing into the ground at 100 miles per hour. Volunteer demonstrator S 1/c Phillip Babbington (above) of Cedar Grove, New Jersey, feels the impact of a 500-pound weight dropped through a trap on the "impact-deceleration" during the demonstration. The new harness is expected to cut down fatalities and injuries in planes by preventing pilots and passengers from being thrown forward in emergency and crash landings.

Photo is dated 1946.

Photo measures 7 x 9.25 inches.