Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service

Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (PMRAFNS) is the nursing branch of the British Royal Air Force. It was established as the Royal Air Force Temporary Nursing Service in 1918 and became part of the permanent establishment as the Royal Air Force Nursing Service on 27 January 1921. It received the royal prefix after Princess Mary agreed to become its Patron in June 1923.

It was a women-only branch until 1980, when men were also permitted to join. Until the Second World War it was only open to unmarried women or childless widows. There was also a Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service Reserve to supplement the service in emergencies.

Ranks
The initial ranking system used by the PMRAFNS was as follows.

From 1 June 1943 PMRAFNS personnel were granted emergency commissions and wore rank insignia corresponding to their equivalent RAF rank. On 1 February 1949 the women's forces were integrated into the armed forces and a new ranking system was introduced, although professional titles were still used on the wards.

Other Ranks were introduced in 1956. They held standard RAF ranks. Officers used the separate ranking system until 1980, when they too adopted RAF ranks.

List of Matrons-in-Chief PMRAFNS

 * Joanna Cruickshank, 1918–1930
 * Katherine Watt, 1930–1938
 * Dame Emily Blair, 1938–1943
 * Gladys Taylor, 1943–1948
 * Air Commandant Dame Helen Cargill, 1948–1952
 * Air Commandant Dame Roberta Whyte, 1952–1956
 * Air Commandant Dame Alice Williamson, 1956–1959
 * Air Commandant Dame Alice Lowrey, 1959–1963
 * Air Commandant Dame Veronica Ashworth, 1963–1966
 * Air Commandant Dame Pauline Giles, 1966–1970
 * Air Commandant Ann McDonald, 1970–1972
 * Air Commandant Barbara Ducat-Amos, 1972–1978
 * Air Commodore J. Metcalfe, 1978–1981
 * Air Commodore Joy Harris, 1981–1984
 * Air Commodore A. A. Reed, 1984–1985
 * Group Captain M. M. Shaw, 1985–1988
 * Group Captain E. A. I. Sandison, 1988–1991
 * Group Captain Ethnea Hancock, 1991–1994
 * Air Commodore V. M. Hand, 1994–1997
 * Air Commodore Bob Williams, 1997–
 * Group Captain Annie Reid
 * Group Captain Jackie Gross
 * Group Captain Wendy Williams