The History of Aquatics: 1939-1950.

1939 The first reported mention of "SCUBA" is made. Dr. Christian Lambertsen designs a "Self-Contained Underwater Oxygen Breathing Apparatus" for the U.S. military. It's part of the war effort, code-named "SCUBA." Lambertsen's gear works for shallow dives, but the gas mixture is wrong for greater depths and divers die from the oxygen toxicity.

1940s Swimwear's evolution is playfully demonstrated during the 1945 pageant "Swimming Sheds Its Shackles" in Minneapolis. The Red Cross' Commodore Longfellow (center) points out the "scantily clad," modern-day bathing outfits compared with the more modest costumes from previous years.

1940s Although a mural in Sicily's Piazza Armerina dating to 200 AD, shows about a dozen women wearing two-piece suits with strapless bra tops and hip-hugging bottoms, the modern-day version of the bikini is only now introduced in Paris. Initially called the Atom, it is renamed after the atomic tests on the Bikini archipelago. Two decades later, actresses Brigitte Bardot, Ursula Andress and Jane Fonda scandalize audiences by wearing bikinis in movies. The bikini is banned from many European beaches and beauty contests. But the 1960s hit song "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" eventually boosts bikini sales.

1940 The Red Gross meets with Africa American leaders to encourage minority participation in tile organization. Students (shown in 1946) gather in Joplin, Mo., to learn artificial respiration techniques as part of their training to become accredited Red Cross water-safety instructors and lifesavers.

WORLD WAR II

In the early '40s, many individuals and organizations assist the military

with swimming and lifesaving programs. Cal Bryant develops two such programs: Survival Swimming and Swimming for the Handicapped. Red Cross instructors (shown at right in 1942 while training) conduct exercises to prove that soldiers can safely swim while weighted down with clothing and equipment In 1943, Dr. Thomas Cureton of the National Aquatic Committee publishes Warfare Aquatics, used by the Armed Forces, YMCAs, colleges and other facilities. By fall, 100 wartime aquatic institutes have been held.