Aeromedical evacuation in the "Luftwaffe" from its origins until 1945

Prior to WWII, Germany had little experience in aeromedical evacuation (AE) of the sick and wounded. The need for a specialized AE organization was recognized, organized, and used extensively on all fronts during WWII. Nearly 2.5 million casualties were transported by regular troop carriers and 11 specialized AE Units, which concentrated on the intensive care air transport of the seriously wounded, especially those with injuries of the brain, eyes, or jaw, thoracic or abdominal wounds, or gun-shot fractures. The AE Units were commanded by medical officers, most of whom were pilot-physicians, who had command jurisdiction over flying and line personnel as well as medical service personnel. The AE Units were equipped with both Junkers Ju-52s, which could carry up to 12 litter patients plus 3 to 5 ambulatory patients each, and with Fieseler Fi -156s (STOL "Stork" for 1 or 2 litter patients), ambulances, as well as the personnel needed for operating and maintaining the vehicles and materiel. The AE Units of the Luftwaffe--the Sanitaetsflugbereitschaften--made an outstanding contribution to military medical care in achieving this significant number of casualties evacuated under the humanitarian symbol of the Red Cross.