The powerful external forces of the battle situation, as well as specific internal conflicts and tensions, make the shifts from health to neurosis and back again much more sudden than is ever seen in civilian experience. All men develop anxiety in the battle situation. In bomber crews, anxiety develops before or after the combat rather than during the missions. A definite and rapidly progressing characterological change in pilots which may be called a regression to early adolescence frequently serves as a protection against their being overwhelmed by anxiety. Aggressive reactions as well as relations with their mates are often dominated by a 'Dead End Kids' attitude. Individuals who experience severe anxiety situations under hazardous conditions apparently need a homosexual-aggressive regression of this type in order to carry on successfully. This, however, is connected with a certain danger of later neuroses.