RAF Sandfly Fever Commission
- Date:
- 1921-1952
- Reference:
- PP/HEW/B
- Part of:
- Whittingham, Sir Harold E., 1887-1983, Air Marshal
- Archives and manuscripts
About this work
Publication/Creation
1921-1952
Physical description
34 files
Biographical note
The RAF Sandfly Fever Commission was appointed in Spring 1921 to investigate the fever's causes, prevention and treatment, following its high incidence amongst RAF personnel in 1920. Calafrana RAF Station, Malta, was chosen as the locus for the research, due to the island's isolation and freedom from other tropical disease which might complicate the observations and research. Heading a team of four, HEW studied the habits and life cycle of the sandfly and was the first to breed it in captivity. The research was completed by 1923. As a result of his recommendations as to its prophylaxis, sandfly fever became a rarity in the RAF. For his work, HEW was awarded the North Persian Memorial Medal in 1923 and the Chandwick Gold Medal in 1925.