page_title: Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service
section_title: World War II
hierarchical_section_title: Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service / History / World War II
caption_attribution_description: RAAF Nursing Service Sisters walk along the path from their lodge to the wards of a hospital at Darwin
context_page_description: The Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service was a branch of the Royal Australian Air Force, which existed from 1940 to 1946, and from 1948 to 1977. Members served in World War II, the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency, and the Vietnam War.
context_section_description: Most RAAFNS nurses served in clearing stations, base hospitals, station sick quarters, and rehabilitation centres in Australia, but all were obligated to serve overseas if required (unlike members of the Australian Army Nursing Service, who could choose to serve overseas or not). From November 1942, shortly after the close of the Kokoda Track campaign, RAAFNS personnel set up a medical receiving station in Port Moresby, New Guinea, and were present during the Battle of Port Moresby. Others sailed on troop convoys, accompanying contingents of airmen to Great Britain, Canada or South Africa. Between November 1942 and November 1943 No. 1 Medical Receiving Station RAAF at Coomalie Creek, south of Darwin, was bombed by the Japanese on several occasions. In 1944 No. 1 Medical Air Evacuation Transport Unit was created staffed by flight nurses of the RAAFNS. After the surrender of Japan in August 1945, RAAFNS personnel took part in the care of returning  prisoners of war, until it was finally disbanded in November 1946.
caption: Four RAAFNS nurses at Darwin in December 1943
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