Falling asleep in combat (1 Viewer)

[The Basket]

So the P-51 could stay airborne for 8 hours maybe.

How did the USAAF combat fatigue?

I watched a video where a Zero pilot would watch fellow pilots crash into the sea due to falling asleep.

 

[glennasher]

The pilots were kept busy trying to keep their relief tubes from freezing up.

 

[swampyankee]

So the P-51 could stay airborne for 8 hours maybe.

How did the USAAF combat fatigue?

I watched a video where a Zero pilot would watch fellow pilots crash into the sea due to falling asleep.

Youth, excitement, caffeine pills, and possibly speed.

 

[T Bolt]

When the longer range P-47N came out it had an auto- pilot, arm rests for the seat and if I remember correctly, the rudder pedals folded down so the pilot could stretch out.
In Greg (Pappy) Boyington' book Has Baa Baa Black Sheep he wrote that because his Crosair was so stable, on long missions he would rig a series of strings to his control stick and take short naps telling his fellow squadron members to keep an eye on his plane.

 

[SaparotRob]

Youth, excitement, caffeine pills, and possibly speed.

Sounds like getting ready for Saturday night.

 

[fastmongrel]

The Allies spent more money on Amphetamine production than they did on Penicillin.

 

[Greyman]

I remember reading in a memoir (I'm pretty sure Lancaster Target by Jack Currie) that on long missions he sometimes nodded off -- but each time his hearing 'shut off' first and he thought all four of his engines cut and he bolted awake in a cold sweat.

 

[GregP]

If you're falling asleep, you're NOT in combat. You might be on a combat mission, but there are no enemy actively around if you can fall asleep in the airplane.

 

[Admiral Beez]

When the longer range P-47N came out it had an auto- pilot,

Was it a full autopilot for compass heading and altitude? If so, I can definitely foresee naps.

 

[jetcal1]

Slightly O/T but related.
We had just come off a 36 hour shift after three A-6's fodded themselves out on the flight deck. (We processed 12 J52's including six test cell runs in 36 hours.) Afterwards, our Div-O caught someone leaning against a bulkhead and fast asleep while on watch. (This is a huge no-no and the LT had it out for this kid as well.) He went up to the kid and shook him to wake him up. As the the kid was waking up he had the presence of mind to say "Amen."

 

[NevadaK]

This was covered a while ago on PBS. Not commonly known today:

World War Speed | World War Speed: About the Film | Secrets of the Dead | PBS

 

[Capt. Vick]

I remember reading a book on WWI and hearing that when the French were finally able to check the Germans initial rapid advance, hitting into an exposed flank, they (the French) captured not a few sleeping boche, they having exhausted both their natural and chemical stamina.

 

[pbehn]

Possibly affected long range PR pilots flying alone and having to maintain radio silence. From my experience the more you do something the more you are inclined to lose respect for it. I never felt drowsy on my first few drives across Europe, but then after years of doing it and it being normal and boring I did, I came close to sleeping at the wheel, most dangerous when you aren't tired but bored. Also many people used to fall asleep at Motorhead concerts, I saw my sister do it in Newcastle, you would think loud noise would keep people awake, but a long time in noisy environments can just make your body switch off, it is a physical stress the body wants to escape from.

 

[Capt. Vick]

I fell asleep at a Firm concert, had a dream my friend got up in the middle of a song and clapped, finally woke up during the last song. This may have be due to depressive substances.

 

[Greg Boeser]

Possibly affected long range PR pilots flying alone and having to maintain radio silence. From my experience the more you do something the more you are inclined to lose respect for it. I never felt drowsy on my first few drives across Europe, but then after years of doing it and it being normal and boring I did, I came close to sleeping at the wheel, most dangerous when you aren't tired but bored. Also many people used to fall asleep at Motorhead concerts, I saw my sister do it in Newcastle, you would think loud noise would keep people awake, but a long time in noisy environments can just make your body switch off, it is a physical stress the body wants to escape from.

Explains why I could never drive listening to heavy metal.

 

[varsity07840]

I nodded out on my first mission as a cherry door gunner.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Heat, fatigue and boredom.

Combat operations are either balls to the wall, or complete boredom. Most of the time it is boring. Just the time with enemy action gets hairy. Everything in between is monotonous boredom.

I flew 4 to 8 hour missions a day as a crew chief/door gunner in Iraq for an entire year. Lack of sleep, 120 degree heat, and usually nothing to see over the desert can make you nod off quickly. I would lie if I said it never happened to me.

 

[pbehn]

Explains why I could never drive listening to heavy metal.

All sorts of things you would think keep you awake can send you to sleep, it wasn't common but wasn't unusual either to walk into a radiograph viewing room and find the radiographer with his head on the viewer banging the ZZZZZZs out.

 

[windhund116]

I would think that the constant drone of the motor, in cruise, could put anyone to sleep.

 

[The Basket]

If a pilot falls asleep then the consequences are maybe not good.

I fell asleep at the wheel during basic training when I had a weekend off. The only thing that saved me was my passenger.

So I can sympathise and empathise