I was interested to read of the incidents concerning German Red Cross seaplanes in the English Channel, because I heard some time ago that both the Italian and the German Army Medical Corps use aeroplanes extensively for the evacuation of wounded. During the campaign in Poland the Germans are said to have evacuated about 2,500 wounded by air.
Commenting on the use of air ambulances, a medical friend tells me that, although they are useful in many cases, there are times when it is unwise to evacuate a patient by air.
Sufferers from shock are one class who are banned from aerial transport. Newly-operated cases are generally excluded, and it is not considered advisable to use this form of evacuation for troops suffering from wounds in the chest - my friend specifically mentioned the last class because of the possibility of oxygen deficiency while flying high.
There are, however, many other types of war casualties who would benefit by the speedy evacuation to base hospitals.
The Irish Times, August 5th, 1940.