Strategic aeromedical evacuation: the inaugural flight

Strategic aeromedical evacuation, a vital subsystem of the overall aeromedical airlift system, had its beginning in a confidential, poorly planned, poorly coordinated Air Transport Command flight from Karachi, Pakistan (then part of India) to Washington, DC, in January 1943. That the flight was successfully completed was due in large measure to the untiring efforts of the nurse, Second Lieutenant Elsie S. Ott, aboard the flight. Lessons learned in the form of recommendations made by Lt. Ott were implemented to improve succeeding strategic aeromedical evacuation missions. Largely through Lt. Ott's efforts, long range aeromedical evacuation was demonstrated to be a practicable method of transportation for seriously ill and wounded patients. A new dimension had been added to the overall aeromedical airlift mission.