Any record of aircrew wearing gasmasks?

[jamo]

Greetings Forumites
Does anyone have any knowledge of aircrew wearing gasmasks while flying? Just curious because I recently purchased a box of 1/72 WWI aircrew from Orion and one of the figures (supposedly British) is wearing one and I had never heard of this actually happening.
Cheers
James

[Rick]

Gas mask?? I certainly doubt it. Its against the laws of physics for an aircraft to fly thru gas. Gas is denser than air, and besides the aircraft's velocity would dispell any gas that even remotely might be present. Could this possible be an early oxygen mask? Seems much more likely. R.

[Cigogne]

Are you sure they are gasmasks and not oxygen masks? There were oxygen mask systems for high altitude flight. These conisisted of liquid oxygen cylinders where the pilot would suck on a metal tube, also there was a non-liquid type system with masks that covered the aircrew's mouth and nose. There are photos of this type in the Summer 2000 issue of Over The Front in an article about the Royal Bavarian Flying Corps in an article, I believe, by Harald Potempa. Also, I heard an interview by a German Rumpler pilot where he stated that they had that and that the observer used it because it was physical labor standing up and doing the tasks that he did at such a high altitude.

Also, the Zeppelin crews were starting to use them to overcome high-altitude sickness. The crews, however, didn't get the full benefit as they felt that they were "weak" if they had to resort to that. The result of "dragging" on the liquid oxygen gave almost a "chocolatey" taste in the mouth, and also they weren't hungry after the intake of the liquid oxygen. I read that in "The Zeppelin in Combat" and possibly other articles by Dr. Douglas Robinson in OTF.

[Romani]

I concur that the most likely explanation is that it is an early oxygen mask, but I remember a picture from World War 2 of some miserable German soldier wearing a gas mask (without the filter) as face protection against the cold of the Russian winter in 1941.

Given how cold it is at high altitude, specially in winter, it is possible that an enterprising airman used a gas mask in this fashion in 1915/16 before better, warmer flying gear was issued.

I've read stories about the early air combats in 1915 where some observers suffered frostbite when removing the gloves to better handle the bolt of the rifle, so despite the popular image, the pilots flew bare faced.. so for lack of a better alternative a gas mask would have been useful.

[Gregvan]

Hi,

I've never seen any photos of British aircrew earing gasmasks, but there is at least one photo of a Halberstadt CL.II crew(I think) from a Schlachtstaffel wearing gas masks as they prepare to fly their aircraft. I suppose this was a publicity stunt photo, but the Schlasta crews had the most reason to have such equipment.

They flew low over the battle front, strafing and bombing, and in the midst of an offensive I guess they stood a good chance of encountering gas clouds. or perhaps being forced down in front line territory where they might have to endure gas. Some Schlasta crews flew wearing German 'coal scuttle' steel helmets, for the same reasons. They flew low and encountered lots of ground fire, and might have to land in the front lines.

When Ernst Udet was shot down in his "Du doch nicht!!" Fokker D.VII, he had to run through a bombardment, partly of gas shells. He arrived back at the JG I airfield wearing a gasmask around his neck, presumably a loan from some of the ground troops he encountered.

Greg

[jamo]

Thanks Greg, Romani, Cicogne and Rick for your replies. Maybe I will use the figure in a Pegasus Halberstadt CLII. Greg - has the picture of the Halberstadt crew been published?
Cheers
James

[Cigogne]

The photo of the Halberstadt aircrew wearing their masks has been published several times. I think one of the latest was the book published about the Smithsonian's new air exhibit back in 1992-4 by Dominic Pisano and crew. There is a crystal clear shot in there of it.

[Gregvan]

Hi,

Thanks for answering Jamo's question, Cigogne. I knew I had seen the photo published a number of times, but couldn't remember where.

Jamo, you should be able to find a copy of this book through interlibrary loan, etc. It's probably still available through used book dealers. The photo is on page 65.

Dominick Pisano, Thomas J. Dietz, Joanne M. Gernstein and Karl Schneide, "Legend, Memory and the Great War in the Air", University of Washington Press, 1992, ISBN 0-295-97215-7.

Greg