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Chamber divers : the untold story of the D-day scientists who changed special operations forever Cover Image Book

Chamber divers : the untold story of the D-day scientists who changed special operations forever / Rachel Lance.

Lance, Rachel, (author.).

Summary:

"The previously classified story of the eccentric researchers who invented cutting-edge underwater science to lead the Allies to D-Day victory. In August 1942, more than 7,000 Allied troops rushed the beaches of Normandy, France, in an all but-forgotten landing. Only a small fraction survived unscathed. It was two summers before D-Day, and the Allies realized that they were in dire need of underwater intelligence if they wanted to stand a chance of launching another beach invasion and of winning the war. Led by the controversial biologists J. B. S. Haldane and Dr. Helen Spurway, an ingenious team of ragtag scientists worked out of homemade labs during the London Blitz. Beneath a rain of bombs, they pioneered thrilling advances in underwater reconnaissance through tests done on themselves in painful and potentially fatal experiments. Their discoveries led to the safe use of miniature submarines and breathing apparatuses, which ultimately let the Allies take the beaches of Normandy. Blast injury specialist Dr. Rachel Lance unpacks the harrowing narratives of these experiments while bringing to life the men and women whose brilliance and self-sacrifice shaped the outcome of the war, including their personal relationships with one another and the ways they faced skepticism and danger in their quest to enable Allied troops to breathe underwater. The riveting science leading up to D-Day has been classified for generations, but Chamber Divers finally brings these scientists’ stories—and their heroism—to light"-- Page [2] of cover.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9780593184936
  • ISBN: 0593184939
  • Physical Description: 438 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
  • Publisher: [New York] : Dutton, [2024]

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 325-418) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:
Prologue: "A piece of cake" -- Professor Haldane and Dr. Spurway's problem -- Brooklyn Bridge of death -- Devil's bubbles -- Subsunk -- Love, cooking, and communism -- Drunk and doing math -- Everyday poisonous gases -- The blitz -- The piggery -- The littlest pig -- Lung maps -- Nerves -- The inevitable solution -- The midget subs -- Airs of Overlord -- The operations -- The longest days -- The unremembered.

Search for related items by subject

Subject:
Haldane, J. B. S. (John Burdon Sanderson), 1892-1964.
Great Britain. Royal Navy > Commando troops.
World War, 1939-1945 > Commando operations > Great Britain.
World War, 1939-1945 > Campaigns > France > Normandy.
World War, 1939-1945 > Naval operations > Submarine.
World War, 1939-1945 > Naval operations, British.
World War, 1939-1945 > Amphibious operations.
Midget submarines > Great Britain > History > 20th century.
Military research > Great Britain > History > 20th century.
Deep diving > Great Britain > History > 20th century.
Genre:
Informational works.

Available copies

  • 45 of 46 copies available at NC Cardinal. (Show)
  • 1 of 1 copy available at Madison County Public Library.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 46 total copies.
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Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Madison Main Library 940.54 LAN (Text) 30229101341500 Adult Nonfiction Available -

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MARC Record

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504 . ‡aIncludes bibliographical references (pages 325-418) and index.
5050 . ‡aPrologue: "A piece of cake" -- Professor Haldane and Dr. Spurway's problem -- Brooklyn Bridge of death -- Devil's bubbles -- Subsunk -- Love, cooking, and communism -- Drunk and doing math -- Everyday poisonous gases -- The blitz -- The piggery -- The littlest pig -- Lung maps -- Nerves -- The inevitable solution -- The midget subs -- Airs of Overlord -- The operations -- The longest days -- The unremembered.
520 . ‡a"The previously classified story of the eccentric researchers who invented cutting-edge underwater science to lead the Allies to D-Day victory. In August 1942, more than 7,000 Allied troops rushed the beaches of Normandy, France, in an all but-forgotten landing. Only a small fraction survived unscathed. It was two summers before D-Day, and the Allies realized that they were in dire need of underwater intelligence if they wanted to stand a chance of launching another beach invasion and of winning the war. Led by the controversial biologists J. B. S. Haldane and Dr. Helen Spurway, an ingenious team of ragtag scientists worked out of homemade labs during the London Blitz. Beneath a rain of bombs, they pioneered thrilling advances in underwater reconnaissance through tests done on themselves in painful and potentially fatal experiments. Their discoveries led to the safe use of miniature submarines and breathing apparatuses, which ultimately let the Allies take the beaches of Normandy. Blast injury specialist Dr. Rachel Lance unpacks the harrowing narratives of these experiments while bringing to life the men and women whose brilliance and self-sacrifice shaped the outcome of the war, including their personal relationships with one another and the ways they faced skepticism and danger in their quest to enable Allied troops to breathe underwater. The riveting science leading up to D-Day has been classified for generations, but Chamber Divers finally brings these scientists’ stories—and their heroism—to light"-- ‡cPage [2] of cover.
60010. ‡aHaldane, J. B. S. ‡q(John Burdon Sanderson), ‡d1892-1964. ‡0(CARDINAL)125104
61010. ‡aGreat Britain. ‡bRoyal Navy ‡xCommando troops.
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650 0. ‡aWorld War, 1939-1945 ‡xCampaigns ‡zFrance ‡zNormandy. ‡0(CARDINAL)258733
650 0. ‡aWorld War, 1939-1945 ‡xNaval operations ‡xSubmarine. ‡0(CARDINAL)258805
650 0. ‡aWorld War, 1939-1945 ‡xNaval operations, British. ‡0(CARDINAL)287801
650 0. ‡aWorld War, 1939-1945 ‡xAmphibious operations. ‡0(CARDINAL)258715
650 0. ‡aMidget submarines ‡zGreat Britain ‡xHistory ‡y20th century.
650 0. ‡aMilitary research ‡zGreat Britain ‡xHistory ‡y20th century.
650 0. ‡aDeep diving ‡zGreat Britain ‡xHistory ‡y20th century.
655 7. ‡aInformational works. ‡2lcgft ‡0(CARDINAL)351103
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