With the capture of a Japanese cruiser loaded with poison gas canisters at the battle of Midway in 1942 and later German use of V-2 rockets against Great Britain, the possibility of a gas attack against the United States was considered serious. F. Wellington Gilcreas, a chief chemist with the New York State Department of Health, was appointed State Gas Consultant in May 1942 and served until his position's termination in 1945. As part of the War Council's Division of Civilian Protection, he worked closely with state and federal agencies to coordinate instruction concerning the identification of, and proper response to, enemy gas attacks. In addition, he assisted local war councils' gas officers with training and provided technical advice.
From the description of Training and inquiry response correspondence files, 1942-1945. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 79809402
