WWII and the Birth of the AFMS Published May 8, 2025 By Megan Hearst Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- Before he became the first Surgeon General of the U.S. Air Force, General Malcolm C. Grow played an essential role on the battlefields of World War II. As surgeon for the 8th Air Force, Grow developed the first flak jacket, the first steel aircrew helmet, and numerous other inventions credited with saving countless lives. Eighty years after the Allied Victory in Europe, the legacy of Grow and his fellow medics is still felt within the Air Force Medical Service. 05:25 Watch on DVIDS