Physical description

Illustrated book with blue cover. Front cover has a coloured illustration by Vivian and Marjorie Mare of a nurse in uniform standing in front of a plane, the title is printed in blue and the author's name printed in white. Title and author's name are also printed in white on the spine. The back cover has a collage of black and white photographs of RAAF personnel including nurses. Limited edition of 1000 copies.

Publication type

non-fiction

Inscriptions & markings

At lower right of front end-paper is a printed black and white donation sticker: black Maltese cross in circle, "This book was donated to Alfred Archival Association Nursing Division by'. Alfred Hospital Nurses League 1995 handwritten in black ink along with previous catalogue number. The title page has been signed by the author and the number 236 (of limited edition of 1000).

Summary

Established in July 1914, the Royal Australian Airforce Nursing Service (RAAFNS) personnel expanded from 45 in December 1940 to 616 in December 1945. Miss Margaret Irene Lang was appointed Matron-in -Chief and her staff's conditions in service were similar to those of the Australian Army Nursing Service. The nurses were originally attached to RAAF bases in Australia but later served in New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. With the Medical Air Evacuation Transport Unit (MAETU), established in 1944, nurses helped with aerial evacuation of casualties and were involved with the liberation of Prisoners of War from Singapore and other areas. The service was disbanded at the end of World War Two, but in 1948 a peace-time service was formed, and the RAAF nurses have served in the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency and the Vietnam War. They continue to care for the sick and injured at RAAF hospitals. Includes honours, awards and the nominal roll of RAAFNS 1940-1952.