William N. Sullivan

The invention proved invaluable in the Pacific Theater during World War II where it was used extensively to control the spread of insect borne disease - primarily malaria - which was causing far more casualties than actual combat.

He served in the United States Army Air Force during and after World War II (May 5, 1942 - July 21, 1947), entering as a commissioned 1st Lieutenant and rising to Major before being honorably discharged.

In the late 1930s, the first of Sullivan's scientific innovations occurred as a result of his interest in the emergence of global air transportation and the possible damage that aircraft travel could do by spreading insects dangerous to humans, crops, and animals.

The heat produced a fine mist or aerosol that was 20 times more effective against house flies than the original burning method.

Goodhue and Sullivan now had a method of dispersing insecticides that was simple, highly effective against mosquitoes, nonflammable, and nonstaining; exactly the qualities that they were seeking in aircraft disinsection.

At Wright Field, a representative of Westinghouse Electric Co. and Lt. Sullivan evolved the idea of modifying the 1-lb Freon container used for home refrigerators for use as the aerosol dispenser.

After 18 months of service overseas, he was transferred to the Army Air Force Center at Orlando, FL, to develop methods of controlling mosquitoes in jungle areas by airplane spraying.

Released to inactive duty as a Major in the U.S. Army Air Force in August 1947, he returned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine where he spent the remainder of his career, continuing to specialize in aircraft disinsection.