Jane Kendeigh

Jane Kendeigh (born March 30, 1922 – July 19, 1987) was a US Navy flight nurse. She was the first naval flight nurse to fly to an active combat zone as she served at the Battle of Iwo Jima in the Pacific.[1] [2][3]

Jane Kendeigh
Born
Ensign Jane Kandeigh

Ohio

Kendeigh was born and raised in Ohio. She attended a nursing school in Cleveland.[4]

World War II
Flight nurse Jane Kendeigh caring for wounded soldier on Iwo Jima--1945

After graduating, Kendeigh joined the first class of US Navy's School of Air Evacuation. It was composed of 24 pharmacist's mates and 24 nurses. They were trained for crash procedures and field survival, particularly in the face of simulated attacks. They were also trained on treating patients in high altitudes. The program included aeromedical physiology, physical conditioning and calisthenics. The program made it possible to rescue wounded army men sent to distant lands during the war.[3][5][6]

Kendeigh joined the evacuation mission to an active combat zone in the Pacific. She was on board in Naval Air Transport Service R4D with other flight nurses. On March 6, 1945, at 22 years old, Kendeigh was the first flight nurse to land at Iwo Jima.[5][4][7] Kendeigh recalled that some men whistled after witnessing a woman in the combat area.[7] The evacuation mission lasted until March 21, 1945.[5] They were able to rescue and attend to 2,393 marines and sailors.[1]

When Kendeigh returned to the US, she participated in a War bond drive. Shortly after, she was requested to return to the Pacific. On April 7, 1945, Kendeigh landed and served at the Battle of Okinawa.[5] She was the first flight nurse to arrive at Okinawa.[8] Kendeigh also served at battlefronts in Marianas and Hawaii.[8]

Flight nurses were able to tend and evacuate 1,176,048 military patients during the war; only 46 died on the journey.[9][1]

Death

Kendeigh passed away on July 19, 1987 at San Diego, California. She was 65 years old.[3]

References
  1. "These 5 Heroic Women of World War II Should Be Household Names". United Service Organizations. USO, Inc. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  2. Sobocinski, Andre. "Angels of the Airfields: Navy Air Evacuation Nurses of World War II | Naval Historical Foundation". www.navyhistory.org. Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  3. "Ens Jane Louise "Candy" Kendeigh Cheverton..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  4. Lotring, Katherine (3 April 2020). "World War II at 75: The Women at Iwo Jima". Submarine Force Library & Association. Submarine Force Library and Museum Association. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  5. Sobocinski, Andre. "Angels of the Airfields: Navy Air Evacuation Nurses of World War II – Navy Medicine". Navy Medicine Live. U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  6. "Winged Angels: USAAF Flight Nurses in WWII". National Museum of the United States Air Force™. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  7. "Battlefield Lifeline". National Aviation Museum. Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  8. Bedell-Burke, Margie (14 January 2018). "Ensign Jane Kendeigh, Navy Flight Nurse". Women of World War II. Burke Enterprises. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  9. www.legendsofflightnurses.org. Legends of the Flight Nurses of WWII http://www.legendsofflightnurses.org/. Retrieved 27 October 2020. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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