Lieutenant Elsie Ott had never flown before being assigned to the first medical evac. flight.

On that flight Lieutenant Ott would have the  lives of several soldiers in her hands. Doctors did not even clear the patients for air travel, much less a trip that would take them almost half way around the world.

Lieutenant Elsie Ott was a nurse at a military hospital in Karachi, India (now Pakistan) in January 1943. She had never flown and had no training about the effects of high altitude on any type of injuries or illness. However, she was given orders to accompany five soldiers in serious condition to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.

She was given no list of supplies needed or directions as to what to expect—just to be ready to leave the next day. Lt. Ott used her nursing intuition to gather basic medicine and equipment she felt might be necessary during the flight that would take an entire week. “Ott was responsible for the medical care of five casualties during the flight. Two patients were paralyzed from the waist down, one had tuberculosis, one had glaucoma and          

 another patient had manic-depressive psychosis. She collected a bedpan, urinal, aspirin tablets, and other medical supplies during her flight preparations. She also received blankets, pillowcases, sheets, two Army cots and two mattresses. ‘A medical department staff sergeant with chronic arthritis, who had recently been a patient himself, accompanied Ott on the flight as her medical attendant’.” (Source)  Because the Germans controlled Europe and Northern Africa, the flight had to take a course across the middle of Africa. Along the way 11 more patients were added.

A detailed description of the flight with it’s many stops for refueling and overnight layovers is a testament to the human spirit to overcome sleep deprivation, inept officials, and multitude of diverse tasks to complete the job. Judith Barger’s book BEYON.D THE CALL OF DUTY  Army Flight Nursing in World War II,  details Lt. Elsie Ott’s odyssey. This wonderful book is a tribute to flight nurses, and Barger gives a vivid picture of the terrible ordeal of Lieutenant Ott. Years later,  Elsie  told an interviewer that she was so tired when the flight arrived in Washington, she was unable to answer simple questions and requested permission to fill out paperwork the next day. She couldn’t even remember her name and had to sneak a peek at her dog tags to provide that information.

As a result of the success of her mission, the bureaucrats who thought medical evacuations and a flight nurse program were ridiculous to consider had a change of heart. This mission would have taken at least two months by air and ship;  therefore the first school for training flight nurses was soon opened at Bowman Army Air Field in Kentucky.  Due to her actions,

Lt. Elsie Ott was the first woman to be awarded the Air Medal by the United States Army.

Lt. Elsie Ott receives Air Medal from Brigadier General Fred  Borum

The citation accompanying the award read:

Second Lieutenant Elsie S. Ott, Army Nurse Corps, United States Army.  For meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight from India to the United States January 17 to 23, 1943. During this flight Lieutenant Ott served as nurse for five patients who were being evacuated from India to Washing D.C. This was the pioneer movement of hospital personnel by air over such a great distance. Several of these patients were suffering from serious ailments which required constant attendance and vigilance on the part of Lieutenant Ott. In addition to her nursing duties, she was responsible for arranging for the feeding and housing of the patents en route, the transportation and stowing of their baggage, as well as making all financial arrangements involving their feeding and care while at ground bases not under the control of the Army Air Forces. The successful transportation of these patients was made possible by the efficiency and professional skill of Lieutenant Ott and her unflagging devotion to duty. It further demonstrated the practicability of long-range evacuation by air of seriously ill and wounded military personnel from theaters of operations and reflected great credit upon Lieutenant Ott and the Army Nurse Corps. (Barger, 33-34)

In addition to all of the work mentioned in the citation, Lt. Ott also kept extensive notes about practical needs that were lacking on her flight. These would be of great benefit to the patients as well as the staff on future flights. She said it would be especially helpful for nurses to wear slacks instead of a dress or skirt. After this ground-breaking flight she was required to attend the second class of flight nurses training at Bowman.  She continued in this work through her time in the Army Air Corps. Before leaving the military in 1946 to marry, Lt. Ott was promoted to Captain.

Lt. Elsie Ott would have been very pleased to have been able to wear slacks during her history making flight. At that time, nurses were required to ALWAYS wear dresses or skirts.

1. Honoring the American Heroine: The Story of 2nd Lt. Elsie S. Ott; Purple Heart Foundation; https://purpleheartfoundation.wordpress.com/2017/03/10/honoring-the-female-heroine-2nd-lt-elsie-s-ott/; 15 March 2017; 9 July 2018.
2. Barger, Judith. Beyond The Call of Duty. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press. 2013.

Pin for Later!