Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
Distribution of Duties - Medical Directorates (1940 - 1945)
Directorate of RAF Medical Services (DMS)
1939
| Name | Status/Rank | Role/Duties |
| Sir Victor Richardson | AM | Director-General of RAF Medical Services (DGMS) |
| A Grant | A/Cdre | Deputy Director-General of RAF Medical Services (DDGMS) Control of MA 1 |
| H E Whittingham | Act AVM | Director of Hygiene (D of H) Control of MA 4 |
|
||
| MA 1 | ||
| E C K H Foreman J C Blair F W Agar |
Wg Cdr Sqn Ldr Higher Clerical Officer |
Medical establishments and organisation. Entry of medical officers and quartermasters. Selections for permanent commissions. Promotion of medical officers and airmen. Confidential reports. Personal questions affecting medical officers and airmen. Questions affecting training, remustering, reclassification, promotion, extensions and re-engagements of airmen of the medical branch. Mobilisation and war appointments. Estimate questions relating to medical personnel. Civilian medical practitioners, new contracts and renewals. |
| MA 2 | ||
| D McLaren | Gp Capt | Head of Branch |
| J Hutchieson | Wg Cdr | Medical care and treatment of non-effective officers
and cadets. Questions regarding all medical standards. Assessment of medical fitness of officers and cadets. Hospitals and sick quarters requirements, organisation. Accommodation and scales of equipment (other than rations and medical stores) for hospitals, sick quarters and other medical units. Hospital diets. Disability claims. Medical and appeal boards and scrutiny of reports of medical boards of officers and cadets. Claims of medical practitioners in respect of officers and cadets. |
| H L Willcox | Sqn Ldr | Medical care and treatment of non-effective airmen. Assessment of medical fitness of education and meteorological officers, airmen, volunteer reservists and civilian employees. Disability claims, airmen. Claims of medical practitioners in respect of airmen. Scrutiny of reports of medical boards, airmen. |
| MA 3 | ||
| G S Strachan J Holt |
Sqn Ldr Flt Lt |
Medical
records and statistics. Preparation of annual health report. Medical reference libraries. Air Force medical publications and forms. Supply of medical stores, equipment and appliances. Preparation of annual estimates for medical stores. Provision of medical equipment for ambulances (air and ground). |
| H D Courtenay R A V Maughan |
Staff Officer Higher Clerical Officer |
Questions relating to supply of and accounting for
medical stores. Supervision of clerical staff of directorate. Medical statistics and records. Preparation of reports. |
| J S Lafferty | Higher Clerical Officer | Medical statistics and records. Preparation of statistical reports. |
| MA 4 | ||
| J MacC Kilpatrick | Wg Cdr | All questions regarding preservation of health and
prevention of disease. Sanitation, rations and water supplies. Questions regarding plans of new buildings, siting, etc. Notification of infectious and contagious diseases. All matters relating to the medical aspect of chemical warfare organisation and defence measures. Medical Research and Flying Personnel Research Committee work. |
| MA 5 | ||
| J Hutchieson | Wg Cdr | Medical matters relating to civil aviation. Medical examinations and standards of physical fitness of civil pilots. First aid equipment for government civil aerodromes. Medical aspects of Air Navigation Acts, orders and regulations regarding Civil Aviation. |
| MA 6 | ||
| L Somerville-Woodiwis | Gp Capt | Chief Dental Officer. All matters relating to the dental service. |
| Name | Status/Rank | Role/Duties |
| E M Blair | Matron-in-Chief | Organisation of Princess Mary's
RAF Nursing Service, including entry, retirement, pay, allowances,
leave, uniforms, etc. Establishments. Personnel regulations; selection boards for candidates; postings; promotions; personal records. Nursing arrangements; accommodation. Training of VAD members. |
| M E R Edwards | Matron | |
| F S Manning | Higher Clerical Officer |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties (Part III),- AIR 20/7512
Directorate-General of Medical Services
1942
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties 1942 Edition (AL3 - 24 November 1942) - AIR 20/7515
1943
| Name | Status/Rank | Role/Duties/Notes |
|
||
| Sir Harold E Whittingham | AVM | Director-General of Medical Services (DGMS). Chairman: -
Member: -
Ex-officio member - Flying Personnel Research Committee Air Ministry Representative: -
Member of Court of Governors - London School Hygiene and Tropical Medicine |
| D McLaren | A/Cdre | Deputy Director-General of Medical Services (DDGMS). Control of MA 1. Air Ministry Representative: -
|
| T McClurkin | A/Cdre | Director of Hygiene (D of H) Control of MA 4(a) and MA 4(b). Chief Executive Officer - Flying Personnel Research Committee Member: -
|
| G A Ballantyne | A/Cdre | Director of Dental Services (D of DS) Control of MA 6. Air Ministry Representative: -
|
| MA 1 | ||
| J C Blair | Wg Cdr | Head of Branch Organisation and administration of the Medical Branch of the RAF Entry of medical officers and quartermasters. Posting of medical officers (Wing Commanders and above). Overseas postings of medical officers. Promotion of medical officers and quartermasters. Confidential reports. Personal questions affecting medical officers and airmen. Medical establishments. Liaison with Central Medical War Committee. Member - Medical Personnel (Priority) Committee for No 5 Region Air Ministry Representative: -
|
| J G Field | Sqn Ldr | Correspondence in connection with
appointment of medical officers (up to commissioning stage). Posting of medical officers up to and including Squadron Leaders, Courses of instruction for medical officers. Questions affecting training, remustering, reclassification, promotion, extension of service and re-engagement of airmen and airwomen of Group 'M'. WAAF substitution in medical trades. Estimate questions relating to medical personnel. Contracts of civilian medical practitioners. Claims for expenses by civil consultants. |
| F W Agar | Higher Clerical Officer | Organisation and supervision of clerical work of MA
1. Medical officers - maintenance of personal records. Preparation of posting instructions. |
| MA 2 | ||
| J Hutchieson | Gp Capt | Head of Branch Liaison with other Government Departments on medical questions, and with British Red Cross Society and allied organisations. Medical standards for all personnel including aircrew. Policy, requirements and organisation for: -
Hospital diets. Transfer of aircrew and other casualties to special centres for treatment. Questions regarding sick leave. Invaliding policy and arrangements. Vocational training of 'war disabled' Air Ambulance organisations. Design and establishment of road ambulances. Design of ambulance trains. Medical policy matters relating to civil aviation, including standards of physical fitness of civil pilots. Air Ministry Representative: -
|
| D A Smith E D Robson |
Wg Cdr Sqn Ldr |
Officers, cadets and PMRAFNS personnel: -
Medical examinations and assessment of physical fitness of civil pilots. First Aid equipment for government civil airfields. |
| W T Buckle* J A Lennox S J Hadfield |
Wg Cdr Sqn Ldr Sqn Ldr |
Airmen, airwomen and apprentices: -
Medical boards on airmen pensioners. Assessment of medical fitness of educational and meteorological officers and civilian employees. Arrangement for medical examination of civilian employees, when required. Workmen's compensation cases. Injury claims by civilians. Amendments to medical forms, pamphlets and publications. *Secretary, - Medical Advisory Board. |
| C S Kirkness | Higher Clerical Officer | Organisation and supervision of clerical work of MA 2. |
| MA 3 | ||
| J R R Jenkins | Wg Cdr | Head of MA 3 and general oversight of MA 7. Organisation of supply of medical stores, equipment and appliances for all medical establishments and air, road and train ambulances. Scales of barrack equipment for hospitals, sick quarters and other medical establishments. Liaison with Ministry of Supply, British Red Cross Society and Allied Medical Directorates with regard to medical supplies. Medical Reference Libraries and supply of Air Force medical publications. Air Ministry Representative: -
|
| F J Sharp | Staff Officer | Supervision of clerical staff of the
Directorate-General. Control of clerical work of MA 3. Preparation of annual estimates for medical stores. |
| R A V Maughan | Higher Clerical Officer | Demands for medical supplies (including apparatus
repairs) other than those supplied under fixed quantity contracts.
Examination of contractors' accounts and of expenditure returns of medical stores. Discrepancy reports and unit medical cash accounts. |
| H A Baker | Higher Clerical Officer | Provision of artificial limbs and eyes, spectacles
and contact lenses and surgical boots and appliances. Checking of National Ophthalmic Treatment Board accounts for spectacles. Supply of books and publications for hospital and Command Medical Reference Libraries. Demands for anaesthetic gases. Records of calf lymph supplies. |
| J Holt | Sqn Ldr | Medical quartermaster duties relating to the issues
of medical stores and hospital barrack equipment. Preparation of prototype outfits of medical equipment. |
| L G Moy | Flt Lt | Provision of medical and dental supplies under
contract; preparation of requisitions on Ministry of Supply;
arrangements for obtaining medical supplies under Lease/Lend
procedure. Applications for release of raw materials and controlled items for the purchase or manufacture of non-contract items. |
| S Shortland | Fg Off | Compilation and printing of scales of medical
equipment and lists of contents for composite medical outfits. Transport arrangements for medical stores of a special nature. |
| MA 4 (a) | ||
| J Hill, | Wg Cdr | Questions regarding preservation of
health and prevention of disease. Sanitation, rations and water supplies. Questions regarding plans of new buildings, sitings, etc. Notifications of infectious and contagious diseases. All matters relating to the medical aspects of chemical warfare organisation and defence measures. Medical Research and Flying Personnel Research Committee work. Air Ministry Representative: -
|
| MA 4 (b) | ||
| G O Williams | Wg Cdr | Investigation of human factors in the causation of flying accidents. |
| I M Marshall | Higher Clerical Officer | Supervision of clerical work of MA4(a) and (b); secretarial duties for Flying Personnel Research Committee and its Sub-committees. |
| MA 6 | ||
| H M G Williams | Wg Cdr | Assistant to D of DS All routine matters relating to the Dental Services. |
| Miss I Falconer | Higher Clerical Officer | Organisation and supervision of clerical work of MA
6. Dental officers - maintenance of personal records; preparation of posting instructions. |
| MA 7 | ||
| R G H Cunningham | Sqn Ldr | Preparation of Health Reports. Medical aspects of medical statistics. Medical History records policy. |
| C A Plumb | Staff Officer | Supervision of clerical staff of MA 7. Medical statistics and records. Preparation of statistical reports. |
| A J Street | Higher Clerical Officer | Compilation of Form 48 enclosures. Supervision of medical records of officers and of flying accidents, invalidings and deaths of RAF personnel generally. |
| Miss W E Jenkins | Higher Clerical Officer | Supervisory duties in connection with coding. |
| MA 8 | ||
| - E B Davies |
Wg Cdr Sqn Ldr |
Preparation of material for Medical History of the
War. Air Ministry Representative: -
|
| Woman Medical Liaison Officer (WMLO) | ||
| E V Butler-Jones | Wg Cdr | Liaison, in connection with medical examination,
medical attendance, health and welfare of WAAF personnel, between
DGMS branches and the following: -
Visits to RAF Stations, as DGMS's representative, to inspect and advise on the health and welfare of WAAF personnel. Preparation of instructions for issue to Commands. DGMS's representative on the WAAF Advisory Council. |
| Nursing Service Branch (NSB) | ||
| Miss G Taylor | Matron-in-Chief* | Organisation of Princess Mary's RAF
Nursing Service, including entry, retirement, pay, allowances,
leave, uniform, etc. Establishments. Personnel regulations; selection boards for candidates; postings; promotion; personal records. Nursing arrangements; accommodation. Training of VAD members. *Member - Nursing Service Advisory Board. |
| Miss N G Rees | Principal Matron | |
| F S Manning | Higher Clerical Officer (Branch Security Officer) | |
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, 1942 - AIR 20/7516 (AL20 - 29 October 1943)
1945
Source - List of Staff and Distribution of Duties, January 1945 - AIR 20/7518 (AL44 - Nov 1945)
This entry was last updated on 13/05/26