Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 457

First Aid Kit Giveaway Winner

Thanks for all the fun comments left on Monday's post on Medical Air Evacuation in World War II. The winner of the With Every Letter "Mellie's First Aid Kit" is...Anne L.

I forgot to ask for email addresses (blame the momentary household coffee shortage...???), so Anne, please leave your email address in the comments in the following format: sarah[at]sarahsundin[dot]com.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 18, 1942: Hitler orders execution of all British commandos taken prisoner. Vice Adm. William Halsey replaces Vice Adm. Robert Ghormley over South Pacific Forces.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 17, 1942: Luftwaffe abandons daylight raids against Malta. Abel’s Field opens at Fasari, New Guinea, named after missionary Cecil Abel who constructed the field with native help. New song in Top Ten: “White Christmas.”

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 16, 1942: Cyclone kills 40,000 in Bengal. Aaron Copland ballet Rodeo premieres in New York City. British film One of Our Aircraft Is Missingis released in US.

Medical Air Evacuation in World War II

“Do you have room for one more litter case?” the doctor asked. “Private Jenkins fell headlong on a landmine. The nearest hospital’s in Cefalù, a long ambulance ride over rough roads. By air he’ll be in Mateur in two hours. He needs a thoracic surgeon.”
Mellie stared at the unconscious patient. He lay on a litter, his torso swaddled in white gauze. Bloody streaks painted his face, arms, and khaki pants. “We’re his only hope.”

My newest historical fiction series, Wings of the Nightingale, launched by With Every Letter (Revell, September 2012), follows three World War II flight nurses in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.

During the war, the advent of medical air evacuation revolutionized the care of the wounded. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower credited air evacuation, sulfa drugs, penicillin, and the use of plasma and whole blood as key factors in the significant drop in the mortality rate among the wounded from World War I to World War II.

Recently I wrote a series of guest posts about medical air evacuation on Redwood's Medical Edge. The first post details World War II air evacuation, the history, advantages, and planes used. The second post discusses the procedures for air evacuation through the eyes of a fictional patient on his air evacuation flight. And the last post introduces the flight nurse - her training, uniforms, duties, and the dangers she faced.

Did you learn anything new? Leave a comment for a chance to win a handmade "Mellie's First Aid Kit," stocked with bandages, antibiotic ointment, hand sanitizer, and - for true emergencies - Starbucks Via coffee.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 15, 1942: Japanese execute three American airmen captured from Doolittle raid. Robert Oppenheimer appointed to coordinate scientific research for Manhattan Project.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 14, 1942: Hitler orders halt in east except in Stalingrad and the Caucasus to prepare for winter defense. Australians and Japanese battle for Templeton’s Crossing on Kokoda Trail, New Guinea.U-69 sinks railway ferry SS Caribouoff Newfoundland, 139 killed, mostly civilians.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 13, 1942: First US Army troops land on Guadalcanal, the 164th Infantry Div., joining the Marines. Japanese shelling makes Henderson Field inoperable on Guadalcanal.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 12, 1942: In Battle of Cape Esperance off Guadalcanal, US destroyer Duncan is sunk; land-based planes sink Japanese destroyers Murakumo and Natsugumo. US no longer classifies Italian-Americans as enemy aliens.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 11, 1942: Luftwaffe launches final major air offensive on Malta. In Battle of Cape Esperance off Guadalcanal, US ships sink Japanese cruiser Furutaka and destroyer Fubuki.