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Forrest Bird

1921-06-09 – 2015-08-02

Portrait of Forrest Bird
Trading Card showing cartoon representation of Forrest Bird. “A little green box called “The Bird” became familiar to hospital patients throughout the world after it was introduced in 1958. It was the first highly reliable, low-cost, mass-produced medical respirator in the world, invented by Forrest Bird. The “Babybird” respirator, introduced in 1970, reduced infant mortality due to respirator problems from 70 percent to less than ten percent. His daddy taught him how to fly a plane as a young boy and he flew solo by the age of 14. By the age of 16 he was working toward several high level pilot certifications. During World War II Bird was a pilot and officer with the Army Air Corps. He has piloted almost every type of airplane there is. He founded the Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center located near Sandpoint,Idaho Forrest Bird was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 2008. He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1995.Credit: USPTO

Life & Legacy

Forrest Morton Bird (June 9, 1921 – August 2, 2015) was an American aviator, inventor, and biomedical engineer. He is best known for having created some of the first reliable mass-produced mechanical ventilators for acute and chronic cardiopulmonary care.

Occupation & Career

aircraft pilot, inventor, physician, physiologist

Education

Northrop University

Accomplishments, Inventions & Publications

National Medal of Technology and Innovation; Presidential Citizens Medal; National Inventors Hall of Fame

Legacy Highlights

Honors & Awards

National Inventors Hall of Fame · National Medal of Technology and Innovation · Presidential Citizens Medal

Education & Institutions

Northrop University

Verified Legacy Record

Sources & Provenance

  1. Wikidata population candidate Q1437958 — wikidata View source

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