Head Injuries

I recall a German physiologist wrote a paper that Richthofen's head injury under modern medicene would have barred him from flying. Another candidate who suffered for the state of 1917 technology in medicene is Harry Taylor.

http://www.australianflyingcorps.org/peopl...aylorharry.html

Taylor had a few prangs while with 2 Squadron AFC, but on the 3rd of January in an SE5a he landed in heavy snow and over-turned his aircraft. He went to the hospital with a cut on the forehead. He was released a couple of days later and returned to the squadron, but was re-admitted to hospital after illness. He was re-admitted to hospital and was found to be suffering severe concussion, including a fractured base of the skull. His service records actually have;

"Ref to W.S.M.L 636.3 Should be dead Wounded Concussion severe"

He spent a couple of months convalescing and was transferred to 8 Sqn AFC in England as an instructor. He was engaging in a dogfight with another pilot when they collided, killing both.

I wonder if his abilities were impaired by the injuries he suffered in January and were part of the cause for his accident. Would Taylor have been grounded in a modern Air Force after such an injury?



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