About This Unit
RAAF Hospitals
RAAF Hospitals were established at or near major RAAF Bases.
No. 1 RAAF Hospital - RAAF Laverton
No. 2 RAAF Hospital - Ascot Vale Melbourne
No. 2 RAAF Hospital was raised on 1 Oct 1940 at the Melbourne Showgrounds at Ascot Vale, Victoria. The first operation was carried out on 10 mar 1940 and as at 28 Feb 1942, the staff consisted of 20 officers, 26 nurses, and 124 airmen and airwomen. During February 1942 there had been significant changes to staff, as the volume of work had increased considerably owing to the Japanese invasion and deteriorating situation in Malaya
There was a further increase in workload during March 1942 when members of the 2nd AIF and American personnel were admitted as the hospital was responsible for the medical examination of a growing number of returning Australian servicemen. Patients suffering from measles, mumps and influenza formed the majority of inpatients at the Hospital in June 1942. At one stage, over 170 inpatients were suffering from measles.
During October 1942, instructions were issued that all surgical cases of a major nature were to be diverted to 6 RAAF Hospital, and during January 1944, the number of inpatients at 2 RAAF Hospital declined, mainly due to the transfer of all long-term cases and all non-infectious skin cases to 6 RAAF Hospital. The work of the outpatient department increased considerably around the conclusion of hostilities as personnel were prepared for discharge and repatriation. The unit was disbanded on 10 May 1946.
No. 3 RAAF Hospital - RAAF Bradfield Park, Concord, Richmond.
No. 3 RAAF Hospital was formed at RAAF Base Richmond, New South Wales, on 15 Oct 1940. A collection of buildings, which included the previous station sick quarters, provided a bed capacity of 34, an outpatient section and a dental section. Manning was initially 12 officers, five nurses, one warrant officer and 32 other ranks. Expansion and additions to buildings and staff increased the bed capacity to 122 by the end or June 1941.
In May 1942 the unit moved to Bradfield Park i(these days Lindfield) and towards the end or 1942 it was again re-located, this time to the Army 113 General Hospital Concord. The bed capacity rose gradually to 500 by the end of 1945. The hospital continued as an operational unit post ww2, and was particularly busy receiving patients evacuated by air during the Vietnam WAr.
No. 4 RAAF Hospital - RAAF Sale
No. 4 RAAF Hospital was formed at Sale, Victoria, on 7 May 1943. By 30 June 1943, most of the buildings had been completed, although some plant was still deficient. On 30 July 1943, the first patients were admitted to the RAAF ward at Gippsland Hospital, and with the arrival of critical equipment, No. 4 RAAF Hospital opened the same day.
By 25 Aug 1943 the number of patients admitted totaled 124, 76 of whom were discharged. Special provision was made in designated wards for infectious diseases. With the end of hostilities patient numbers began to decline, allowing the Hospital to be disbanded on 11 August 1946.
It was re-raised post WW2 and was assigned to Malaysia at Penang and detachments to Vietnam durng that conflict.
No. 5 RAAF Hospital - RAAF Tocumwal (NSW)
No detail at this time.
No. 6 RAAF Hospital - RAAF Heidelberg
No. 6 RAAF Hospital was co-located with 115 Army General Hospital at Heidelberg in Melbourne's NE suburbs from 1942-47. The complex was later to become the Repatriation Hospital for Victoria.
No. 7 RAAF Hospital - RAAF Adelaide
RAAF Special Hospital - Melbourne Showgrounds