The BCA Flying Medical Services extended their medical services to Coober Pedy this included providing a monthly Doctors clinic and emergency evacuations. The clinics were conducted on the first Wednesday of the month in a room at the rear of Marks Store (current site of the Opal Inn Hotel). Dr George Gibson was the initial Dr to visit Coober Pedy followed by Dr Merna Mueller, Sr Flo Dowling accompanied the Drs with their clinics and in emergency evacuations. The plane would circle the town to announce its arrival before landing on the main street and taxiing right up to the store.
(Article: ‘Coober Pedy 65 years young’, 1915-1980) & (Photo of Dr Mueller & Sr Dowling outside Marks’s Store Flying Medical Service 1953 – BCA, Real Australian, courtesy of The Bush Church Aid Society).
The radio call sign for one of the BCA Flying Medical Services planes was ‘Foxtrot Mike Sierra’, piloted initially by Mr. Allan Chadwick before being joined by pilot Mr. John Lindridge.
In the early days night emergency evacuations required the locals to line their vehicles on either side of the airstrip with their headlights on. This would light up the runway providing the necessary lighting for the planes to land and take off.