RAF Mountain Rescue Team

A Brief History

The RAF Mountain Rescue Team was founded by Flight Lieutenant (later Squadron Leader) George Graham in 1943 and has been staffed and grown by volunteers ever since.

RAF policy from the very early days of 1918 was for the station medical officer to attend all aircraft crashes as, initially at least, the low air speeds meant that many crashes were survivable and first aid would be given before the crews were moved either into station sick quarters or a hospital.

A single RAF medical officer, Flight Lieutenant George Desmond Graham (also known as “Doc” Graham), is credited with pressurising the Air Ministry into forming the RAF Mountain Rescue Service (MRS).