A Silent Soldier Takes Flight
On a clear March day in 1921, a U.S. Army Air Service plane took off from Washington, D.C., carrying pilot and passenger Henry A. Renz Jr. A veteran of World War I, Renz had mysteriously lost his voice eight months earlier. Doctors had attempted multiple treatments, including surgery, without success. Dr. Charles H. McEnerney of the U.S. Public Health Service believed the problem was psychological and prescribed an unconventional remedy—a high-altitude flight.
A Terrifying Treatment
As the aircraft climbed to 12,000 feet, the pilot performed sudden dives and loops. When the plane landed an hour later, Renz stepped out and spoke his first words in months: “I don’t know whether I can talk or not.” His voice had returned. The incident sparked excitement across the country, with newspapers hailing the “miraculous” cure.
The Deaf Take to the Skies
Inspired by Renz’s case, other patients with speech and hearing impairments sought similar treatments. “Deaf flights” became popular in the 1920s and 1930s, with some claiming temporary improvement. Even Charles Lindbergh took part, offering deaf flights among his stunt pilot services.
The Rise and Fall of Aerial Medicine
Despite reports of success, medical experts dismissed the method as unscientific. Fatal crashes involving patients further discredited the practice. By the late 1920s, the aviation cure had faded, replaced by safer medical approaches.
On a clear March day in 1921, a U.S. Army Air Service plane took off from Washington, D.C., carrying pilot and passenger Henry A. Renz Jr. A veteran of World War I, Renz had mysteriously lost his voice eight months earlier. Doctors had attempted multiple treatments without… pic.twitter.com/sOTERctl5T
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) February 10, 2025