Us Official Photographs

USAAF evacuating wounded British troops in Italy

Squadrons of the USAAF are evacuating wounded British troops from airfields near the front line in Italy. In some cases wounded soldiers have been transported to base hospitals within a few hours of being injured on the field of battle. RAF and British Army medical officers supervise the loading of wounded at forward airfields. Wounded prisoners of war are also evacuated by air. This view is inside the "Dakota" aircraft evacuating wounded from the Italian front. This plane is carrying 18 stretcher cases, 9 on each side of the aircraft, arranged in threes, one above the other. After having done all she can to make the wounded as comfortable as possible, the flight nurse prepares a list of the patients' names and injuries.