The Melbourne W. Boynton Award was established in memory of Dr. Boynton, a flight surgeon in the Army Air Corps in World War II, who devoted his career and gave his life in the development of flight safety and survival. His most notable work was in high altitude parachute experiments. He conducted many jumps in the Rockies to test not only safety in jumping, but in the subsequent survival under difficult conditions. His last test jump, which ended tragically, took place on August 19, 1944. In an attempt to determine survivability of parachute jumps by B-17 crews, Boynton jumped from a B-17 at an altitude of 43,000 feet wearing specially modified clothing over standard high altitude clothing. He planned to free-fall to an altitude of 5,000 feet before opening his parachute. No drag chute was used, and spinning likely caused his death; he was found in a cornfield with his chute unopened.

In recognition of Melbourne W. Boynton’s efforts in flight safety and survival, this award was conferred upon a physician who has made a significant contribution to the biomedical aspects of space flight.

Recipients 1957 – 2013:

• 2013 – Richard Jennings
• 2012 – Jeffrey R. Davis
• 2011 – Carolyn Huntoon
• 2010 – James P. Bagian
• 2009 – Joan Vernikos
• 2008 – No Award Given
• 2007 – Craig L. Fischer
• 2006 – Richard Williams
• 2005 – No Award Given
• 2004 – No Award Given
• 2003 – No Award Given
• 2002 – No Award Given
• 2001 – No Award Given
• 2000 – Charles K. LaPinta
• 1999 – Dafydd (Dave) R. Williams
• 1998 – John A. Rummel
• 1997 – H. David Short
• 1996 – Anatoly I. Grigoriev
• 1995 – Michael Barratt, Norman Thagard, and David Ward
• 1994 – Roger D. Billica
• 1993 – Bernard A. Harris
• 1992 – Margaret Rhea Seddon and James P. Bagian
• 1990 – Ellen S. Baker
• 1989 – Manley L. Carter
• 1988 – Thomas Goodwin and Ray P. Schwarz
• 1987 – Victor S. Schneider
• 1986 – Margaret Rhea Seddon
• 1985 – Sam L. Pool
• 1984 – Norman E. Thaggard
• 1983 – Arnauld Nicogossian
• 1982 – No Award Given
• 1981 – No Award Given
• 1980 – No Award Given
• 1979 – Philip C. Johnson, Jr.
• 1978 – Cannon A. Owen
• 1977 – Heinz S. Fuchs
• 1976 – Robert L. Johnson
• 1975 – William E. Thornton
• 1974 – Lawrence F. Dietlin
• 1973 – Joseph P. Kerwin
• 1972 – Albert H. Schwichtenberg
• 1971 – Willard R. Hawkins and Harold J. von Beckh
• 1970 – A. Duane Catterson and Karl H. Houghton
• 1969 – Maj. Gen. James W. Humphreys, Jr.
• 1968 – William M. Helvey
• 1967 – Paul A. Campbell
• 1966 – William K. Douglas
• 1965 – Charles A. Berry
• 1964 – No Award Given
• 1963 – Hubertus Strughold
• 1962 – William Randolph Lovelace, III
• 1961 – Ashton Graybiel
• 1960 – Don D. Flickinger
• 1959 – Stanley C. White
• 1958 – Charles P. Gell
• 1957 – David G. Simons