United States Air Force Scientific Advisory Board - Chronology

Chronology

• 1944 – 6/7 August: Arnold met with Theodore von Kármán on the LaGuardia airport 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 – 23 October: von Kármán designated AAF consultant on scientific matters.
• 1944 – 7 November: Arnold provided official written instructions for the AAF Consulting Board for Future Research (AAFCBFR) formed (renamed Army Air Force Science Advisory Group, SAG on 1 December)
  • Original members: Dr. Theodore von Kármán, Dr. Ivan A. Getting2, Mr. Chester Hasert
• 1944 – 23 November: Karman's first report published for the SAG

• 1945 – 1 May: The "von Kármán mission" the SAG portion – a small part of Operation Lusty – 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 – 13 July: von Kármán met Arnold in Paris after having traveled Europe
• 1945 – 30 July: Summary of von Karman memo (initial report) to Arnold documenting SAG's travel's to that point.
• Kármán, Theodore von (22 August 1945). "Atomic Energy for Jet Propulsion". Where We Stand: First Report to General of the Army H. H. Arnold on Long Range Research Problems of the AIR FORCES with a Review of German Plans and Developments. "The size and performance of the craft driven by atomic power would depend mainly on ... reducing the engine weight to the limiting value which makes flight at a certain speed possible."
• von Karman, Theodore (1992). "Toward New Horizons: SCIENCE, the Key to Air Supremacy". Unknown parameter |origdate= ignored (|origyear= suggested) (help)

• 1946 – 6 February: last formal meeting of the AAF SAG, with Meritorious Civilian Service Awards presented to members
• 1946 – 17 June: 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 – 29 August: Scientific Advisory Board forwarded its first set of program recommendations to General Spaatz.

Scientific Advisory Board Commemoration Speakers3
Dr. Eugene E. Covert
Gen Ronald R. Fogleman
Mr. Harry Hillaker
Dr. Robert G. Loewy
Dr. Hans Mark
Dr. Courtland D. Perkins
Gen. Bernard A. Schriever
Dr. Sheila E. Widnall

• 1948 – 14 May: Scientific Advisory Board charter (AFR 20–30) approved by Spaatz-Karman

• 1949 – 11 July: Ridenour Committee first meeting prior to touring/reviewing Air Force facilities
• 1949 – 21 September: Ridenour/Doolittle Report approved
• 1949 – 3 November: Scientific Advisory Board Special Committee meeting

• 1953: Scientific Advisory Board Nuclear Weapons Panel (von Neumann committee) formed after the November 1952 "Mike shot"
• 1953 – 30 March: Scientific Advisory Board Executive Committee meeting

• 1960s: Scientific Advisory Board studies initiated to examine satellite navigation.

• 1994 – 9–10 November: USAF Scientific Advisory Board Commemorative History
• 1995 – 15 December: USAF science and technology forecast New World Vistas briefing of draft report (SECAF conference room)