Blackout — the loss of vision and consciousness caused by high G-forces during tight aerial maneuvers — was a serious hazard for naval aviators throughout World War II. When a pilot pulls out of a dive or executes a sharp turn, centrifugal force drives blood away from the brain, causing grey-out and then full blackout within seconds. Anti-G suits counteract this by applying pneumatic pressure to the legs and abdomen during high-G maneuvers, restricting blood pooling and keeping the brain oxygenated. By February 1945, U.S. carrier aviation was at the height of its wartime power, flying combat operations from Iwo Jima to the Japanese home islands. This page from the February 1945 issue of All Hands describes the Navy's anti-blackout suit program for fleet aviators.
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