The findings in a large number of examinations of the ears done during the past year on flying personnel with combat experience seem to be of enough interest to report.
A total number of 999 officers, including pilots, co-pilots, bombardiers and navigators were examined, as well as a total number of 1,855 aerial gunners. All the personnel included in this report were flyers of Fortresses (B-17's) and Liberators (B-24's). Two officers flew B-18's. None of the officers had less than a total of 400 flying hours. The majority of them had from 600 to 2,500 hours in these ships in the air. It was difficult to obtain the exact number of combat hours for officers since most of them keep a record only of the number of combat missions and the total number of flying hours. Enlisted men, however, seem to have kept exact records as to the number of