Thursday, August 23, 2012

Edgar Alexander Pask Featured on BBC's The One Show

Professor Edgar Alexander Pask O.B.E. (1912-1966)
This information relates to the main Lincolnshire tree - descendants of Johannis [John] and Elizabeth Pask née Archer, who lived in Lincolnshire.

On Monday 20 August 2012, the BBC programme The One Show, featured the remarkable story of Professor Edgar Alexander Pask O.B.E.

He was deemed 'The bravest man in the RAF never to have flown an aeroplane'. Edgar 'Gar' Pask was the first professor of anaesthesia in Newcastle, the second chair to be established in England. During the Second World War, he worked with Professor Macintosh, researching aspects of human physiology for the RAF. He acted as a human guinea pig for very dangerous experiments, intended to investigate ways of saving the lives of airmen forced to bale out at high altitudes, or ditch into freezing seas. He tested the limits of a human endurance due to hypoxia at high altitudes. He tested immersion suits and, unconscious and afloat, tested life jackets. For his bravery, the King awarded him the OBE in 1944.

You can see the programme again on BBC iPlayer - The One Show. However, be quick as it is only available for 5 more days. The topic is about 20 minutes into the programme. We are trying to obtain a copy of the programme.

Edgar, was Stuart's 3rd cousin, once removed. Many thanks to Jo Pask for notifying us that this was featured.