Examples of battle fatigue

[Willi Von Klugerman]

Excesive time in the air can take a toll on a young flyer.The stress and wear on a flyer between ages 17-20 made a young pilot look ten years older.Here are some examples of such thing.

Adolf Ritter von Tutschek age 27,but fatigue made him look as though he was in his late thirties or early fourties.



Same thing with Boelcke.

(Early 1916)


(Months later 1916)

[Barrett]

There's no doubt that prolonged combat showed on the combatant's face. But also recall the physical rigors of flying open-cockpit aircraft in freezing temps much of the year, sometimes upwards of 18k feet where oxygen is half the amount at sea level. Then do it 2-3 times a day for weeks on end.

[Willi Von Klugerman]

No doubt Barrett that flying in open cockpits is a major feat to do.I heard that they flew in -22 F conditions!My gosh!

[Maureen Dig Aire]

Take it from a "mature" lady. Exposing the facial skin to that kinda cold and wind (and the sun), does age it dramatically. (Not mine, you understand. But, other people's....definitely. ) Also, combine the effects of exposure to wind and cold with all that drinking and smoking and poor eating habits. Oh. And the furrows from a frequently furrowed brow; and it'll stay that way. (Whether someone hit them in the back of the head when they were that way or not.)

Willi, that part of "the look" you don't want.

[Tim West]

Besides what's already been noted.... I ve always wondered if drugs had anything to do with some of what is seen. ie.. speed specifically. That might explain some of MvRs decline coupled with the head injury. But that is only speculation on my part.

[Maureen Dig Aire]

Expound more on your speculations, Tim. This might be interesting.

[Tim West]

Hi Maureen, I have no evidence at all on this but I will comment further non the less. Im pretty good at shooting my mouth off

I know that cocaine and amphetamines where around at the time of WWI but I am not so sure it as meth exactly. Prolly more likely coke as meth didnt show up till later...from what I read. Maybe even another drug was of choice..morphine maybe? But given the germans use of amphetamines in WWII, its not beyond thought that similar practices were in use during WWI to combat fatigue and increase the vitality of personnel.

When I first saw the photos of Boelkes change in appearance the first thing I thought of was "Tweaker" ... you can see this similar look amongst other pilots in other services as well. Particularly Guynemer comes to mind. But you don't see it in all the pilots, so it could not be lack of food or fatigue on its own. Or you'd see in all of them. I figure some pilots indulged more than others perhaps.

In the case of MvR, you can see the same subtle changes in appearance and demeanor. Despite a head injury, when he was shot down...he flew as if he was a rookie and did things that he knew were things to get you killed. Target fixation is prolly what got him killed ultimately and the sense of "you cant kill me". These are things that one might fall victim to whilst being on drugs. MrVs death wasnt like Voss's. Voss was cocky and MvR just made mistakes....mistakes he of all people knew were bad decisions, add to that substance abuse, along with a head injury and you have a pilot that should not have been flying.

Again, thats all speculation...especially the part about MvR but as far as substance abuse amongst pilots I still wonder if it was a factor in their "fatigue".

lol...but Im just thinking out loud

[Maureen Dig Aire]

Tim,

That actually makes some sense. Now, were such things as heroin and cocaine still legal by then there? I think the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 made heroine and cocaine (and morphine) illegal in the US, unless prescribed by a physician. But, what about Europe?

Anyone who had been injured would certainly have access to drugs. You sure make a good point regarding MvR, Tim.

Boelke's face actually looks like he'd been living inside a bottle (with a "Do Not Disturb" sign on it) for quite sometime!

[Maureen Dig Aire]

Oh. And Willi....As Always.....Just Say No To Drugs!

[Tim West]

Im not sure about when those were classified as narcotics and listed as illegal.. it would have been sometime near the turn of the century. I have no idea about Europe but amphetamines would not have been classified yet as they werent really in vogue till later in the century. I think meth appeared in the 20's . Even if such things were illegal, the military prolly wouldn't have noticed that small detail in a time of war.

And right about MvR...maybe not speed but more likey a pain killer of some sort. That's why I mentioned morphine.

Lol, and now you mention Boelcke and drinking ..you might very well be right...after all he did have a mid air accident.. is that a FUI?