American Gas Masks for American Soldiers - Gas Mask Production in the World Wars

摘要

As the United States mobilized forces to deploy overseas during World War Ⅰ and World War Ⅱ, American leaders thought those forces should be outfitted with equipment, including gas masks, made in the United States. During World War Ⅰ, the majority of U.S. forces were issued masks made in the United States; however, during World War Ⅱ, all U.S. forces received them. The United States was unprepared for the chemical warfare of World War Ⅰ. When we declared war in 1917, we had no gas defense equipment on hand. On 21 May 1917, a rush order was placed for 25,000 masks to be shipped oversees to the First Division. These masks were based on the British small box respirator (SBR), the then standard British mask that used a noseclip and a mouthpiece. The medical department, then responsible for gas defense, turned to the Bureau of Mines for help with the mask design. When the design was completed in July 1917, production began in Boston, Massachusetts; Brooklyn, New York; and Akron, Ohio. This was a national effort. Unfortunately, the masks were unacceptable and were sent back because the facepieces were easily penetrated by chloropicrin. U.S. forces stationed in France were then issued the British SBR and the French M2 mask.