Flight Nursing Culture

By Breanna Skidmore

U.S. Military• Little interest until WWII

• Training programs started during the war

• http://www.navyhistory.org/2013/05/angels-of-the-airfields-

navy-air-evacuation-nurses-ww2/

Allied Invasion of North Africa

• Women of Bowman Field had not finished their training

• The first class of U.S. Army Nurses’ Corps flight nurses graduated on February 18, 1943

Volunteers

• Aircraft did not display the Red Cross

• Vulnerable for attacks

Plane Basics•They carried an evacuation kit

•There were no regular schedules

http://www.med-dept.com/articles/ww2-air-evacuation/

Revolution

• About 500 Army nurses served as members of 31 squadrons

• Total percentage of medical patients airlifted during the war only represent 4.5%

• 17 flight nurses lost their lives

The Navy

• An eight week program

• On December 10,1944 the first class graduated from the program

Conclusion

There was a special bond developed between these patients and nurses. The flight nurses were rescuing and bringing these physically and psychologically wounded warfighters to safety. These nurses were often referred to as “winged angels” or “angels of the airfields”. After the war ended medical facilities began using helicopters to evacuate critically ill or injured citizens. The military continued to use flight nurses, and the practice also expanded to other things such as private companies and therefore opening up a new host of job opportunities.

References

WW2 US Medical Research Centre (n.d.). WW2 air evacuation. Retrieved from http://www.med-dept.com/articles/ww2-air-evacuation/

DodLive (2013). Women’s history month: flight nurses revolutionize military medical care. Retrieved from http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2013/03/womens-history-monthflight-nurses-revolutionize-military-medical-care/

Sobocinski, A. (2013). Angels of the airfields: navy air evacuation nurses of world war II. Retrieved from http://www.navyhistory.org/2013/05/angels-of-the-airfields-navy-air-evacuation-nurses-ww2/