At the outbreak of the war the success of the Aerial Medical Service (later to become the RFDS), prompted the Royal Australian Air Force to establish its first air ambulance service. Former RFDS doctor Flight Lieutenant Dr George Simpson was asked to set up the Air Ambulance unit to operate in the North African Desert campaign. By taking on the RFDS model and using its pilots to train military air crew, the Air Ambulance Unit was able to dramatically improve the way the wounded were taken to hospital from the front line. The Air Force No.1 Air Ambulance Unit at RAAF Laverton, Victoria, was equipped with three DH-86 Express former airliners, which were fitted out for aerial ambulance work and the unit few its first medivac mission in the Middle East on August 3, 1941. Dr Simpson, along with Dr Alan Vickers from the RFDS, later surveyed and recommended the establishment of the RFDS Tasmania section 60 years ago.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 30, 2020 00:16 UTC