Unit History

The 801st Medical Air Evacuation Squadron was a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) unit that provided aeromedical evacuation and support services to front-line units in the Pacific Theater of World War II.

The squadron organized at Bowman Field, Kentucky, as the 801st Medical Squadron, Air Evacuation Transport, and was rushed to the South Pacific for service during the Guadalcanal Campaign before its training regimen was even complete. The 801st was the first Air Evacuation Transport squadron to deploy, and as such its nurses were some of the first American women of the war to enter forward areas during offensive operations. It began arriving in New Caledonia in January 1943, starting with a cadre of male flight surgeons who participated in the latter phase of the Guadalcanal Campaign. It was directly attached to the USAAF 13th Troop Carrier Squadron, which itself was attached to MAG-25. On 28 February 1943, a nurse of the 801st Medical Squadron became the first American servicewoman to land on Guadalcanal. In May 1943 the squadron was renamed the 801st Medical Air Evacuation Transport Squadron (MAETS).

Crews typically included a nurse, medical corpsman, or flight surgeon from the 801st, or a hospital corpsman or flight surgeon. The first women to set foot on Guadalcanal, New Georgia and many other islands after the war started were flight nurses. From January 1943 to October 1944, the 801st evacuated more that 40,000 patients from forward areas to Hollandra, New Guinea, Morottie, Biak, Philippines, Leyte, Manila, Mindanao and Cebu. In one ten day period in March, 1944, the 801st evacuated over 1800 patients to Guadalcanal and Espiritu Santo. From October 1944 to April 1945, nearly 15,000 patients were transported from the Philippines, the East Indies, and Palau.

During the 801st’s tour in the Pacific, three of its personnel were Killed In Action or Missing In Action; 1LT Burton A. Hall, 2LT Eloise Richardson and T/3 Eugene Barr. All nurses received the Air Medal with 4 bronze oak leaf clusters, Presidential Unit Award with oak leaf cluster and Outstanding Unit Award with 2 oak leaf clusters. All Techs received Air Crew Wings.

The 801st MAES resumed its role during the Korean War, operating as part of the 315th Air Division of the United States Air Force, and received the Presidential Unit Citation for evacuation of over 6,000 casualties during September and December, 1950.

Our Vision

In our portrayal of the 801st Medical Air Evacuation Squadron, we bring the story of the “aeromedical evacuation” to life through immersive living history displays. We welcome reenactors as young as 16, making this an ideal entry point for those eager to learn both the history and the skills of the hobby. For first-time reenactors, we pride ourselves on helping you get your boots on the ground with guidance, mentorship, and loaner gear to start your journey. New members receive training in drill, fieldcraft, and tactical maneuvers, ensuring they not only honor the history of the 801st but also gain the confidence and knowledge to fully participate in authentic WWII reenactment.

Leadership Contacts

If you’re interested in stepping into the boots of the 36ID, we encourage you to reach out to our leadership team with any questions. Whether you’re curious about requirements, events, or the commitment involved, our staff is happy to guide you. Don’t hesitate to contact us—we’re always eager to welcome dedicated reenactors who want to help keep this history alive.

Dana Russell

Chief WARRANT Officer (Reenacted)