RAF honours first recorded aeromedical evacuation
The UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) has marked the 100th anniversary of the first recorded aeromedical evacuation that was undertaken by an RAF pilot.
The UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) has marked the 100th anniversary of the first recorded aeromedical evacuation that was undertaken by an RAF pilot.
On 19 February 1917, wounded soldier Lance Corporal MacGregor from the Imperial Camel Corps was flown from Bir-el-Hassana, Egypt, to a field hospital 44 miles away in El Arish. The lance corporal was strapped into the bi-plane’s observer’s seat and reached the hospital in 45 minutes – a journey that would have taken days if attempted by land.
This rescue helped to pave the way for the RAF’s Medical Emergency Response Teams (MERT). The RAF said that hundreds of injured servicemen today owe their lives to the helicopter crews. The RAF currently has one regular aeromedical squadron and two reserve squadrons.
Squadron leader Sarah Charters ARRC has served as a reservist in the 4626 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron for 27 years. She said: “It is an absolute honour to be a part of this fantastic service which has such a rich history of saving lives.”
Later this year, the RAF will mark the anniversary with a re-enactment of the historic flight in a B.E.2c biplane.