The Roots of Flight Nursing: Lauretta M. Schimmoler and The Aerial Nurse Corps of America

Abstract

In any history of flight nursing or aeromedlcal evacuation, one usually sees reference to Lauretta Schimmoler and the Aerial Nurse Corps of America. A pioneer aviatrix with the foresight to see that one day there would be a need for military evacuation of wounded troops by air, Schimmoler spent nearly 15 years developing a paramilitary nursing organization that proved that such a thing could be successfully accomplished. This paper will survey the career of this remarkable woman, examine the structure and function of her organization, and discuss why it never gained official recognition by the military or the Red Cross.