Oliver Brock Robertson was an outstanding Canadian pilot who flew with 97 Squadron. He won the Distinguished Flying Cross in unusual circumstances in July 1943, just over a month before his death in action. There is an interesting family background,… Read More ›
Medical Services
The wide-ranging and excellent medical services for aircrew and ground personnel. Also includes Medical Boards, including during selection for enlistment in one of the Air Forces.
Medicine in Bomber Command
A Medical Officer’s office in a Nissen hut, note the very cramped space and the stethoscope on the papers on the desk. The wartime RAF had very extensive medical services. Most were located in the hospitals and rehabilitation centres, and… Read More ›
First Aid Kit for Aircrew
A vivid reminder of the terrible dangers of flying on bombing operations, where wounding from machine gun fire, flak fragments or burns from fires on board were an ever-present hazard. Crashes in Britain were also a major hazard. Aircrew were… Read More ›
SSQ – The View from Outside
The photograph shows a characteristic Station Sick Quarters in a Nissen hut, such as were found on wartime bases like RAF Stations Bourn and Gransden Lodge. The extremely basic nature of the building can be seen despite the poor quality… Read More ›
SSQ – A Ward in a Nissen Hut
This Station Sick Quarters ward is clearly on a station built in wartime. The pre-war stations had proper medical blocks, whereas those on the new wartime stations usually had to make do with Nissen huts. Here a Nissen hut has… Read More ›