RAF Medical Branch 1918?

[sabrigade]

RAF Medical Branch.jpg

This is a recent purchase.

Can the period and use be confirmed?

[sabrigade]

A COLEMAN RFC SAAF A5.jpg

Size of the badge compared with a SAMC cap badge.

[Alex Rice]

Howzit
Yes, it's an early collar badge, I think until 1920.
Cheers,
Alex

[Trevor]

Originally Posted by sabrigade

Attachment 32788

This is a recent purchase.

Can the period and use be confirmed?

The badge was in use from April 1918 until 1946. ROYAL AIR FORCE MEDICAL SERVICES HISTORY

The Royal Air Force (RAF) Medical Services evolved from the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) on 01 Apr 1918. Some Medical Officers were absorbed into the nascent RAF Medical Services whilst others remained in the Royal Army Medical Corps or the Royal Navy. The first Air Force List published in January 1919 gave a total of 415 medical officers scattered through various units and formations with the Director of Medical Services at their head. The first direct commissioning of medical officers into the RAF occurred in July 1920. Medical Officers also joined the Auxillary Air Force which had formed in 1924 and also served as RAF Volunteer Reserve Officers during the 2nd World War.

An Air Force Nursing Service was formed in Jun 1918 which became Princess Mary’s RAF Nursing Service in 1923. RAF nursing sisters and medical officers service in the RAF’s hospitals both at home and abroad and wereassisted by the RAF medical orderlies and medical specialist airmen and women. After the introduction of the NHS the RAF hospitals in the UK treated not only members of the RAF, WRAF and RAF families but also civilian patients from their local areas.

In 1916 a Special RFC medical board to pass fit candidates for flying duties was formed as the special medial problems involved with flying began to be recognised. Aviation medicine has since become a prime concern of the RAF Medical Services; the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine (IAM) was opened in April 1945 at Farnborough. Following the transfer of aviation medicine research to the Defence Research Agency the RAF retained responsibility for aviation medicine training and the IAM became the RAF School of Aviation Medicine. Further rationalisation in the the move of the school to RAF Halton; following amalgamated with the RAF Aviation medicine TrainingCentre, the RAF Institute of Community & Occupational Health and the RAF Central Medical Establishment the School of Aviation Medicine was reborn as a constituent of the RAF Centre for Aviation Medicine (CAM) based at RAF Henlow.

During the 2nd World War the RAF Medical Services developed the role for which they remain responsible today, the air evacuation of casualties.