[303rd-Talk] Re: The Mighty Eighth

[rex pearce]

Gentlemen,
All Royal Air Force aircrew were volunteers, after having
passed the aircrew medical, stricter than for normal service. After full 
training passed there was automatic
promotion to rank of sergeant as minimum, and then
rapid promotion to commissioned officer if desired.
This due to the heavy losses of life on operations.
Aircrew who lost their nerve were classified as LMF
(lack of moral fibre), stripped of rank and flying brevet,
and usually put on the most degrading duties such as
latrine cleaning, etc. Officers were usually quietly removed
to non-operational posts, but all were removed from
operational stations asap. Peer pressure would often keep
a frightened man on operations, and there was an aircrew
detention centre in Sheffield where strict discipline might
also get them back on operations. Aircrew training was
so expensive that every effort had to be made to keep
them flying for their required tours of duty, 1st tour
30 ops, six months on non-operational duties, then a second tour of 25 ops.
Average percentage loss just about 5% per operation.
Work it out for life expectancy.
Rex.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "bill runnels" <billrunnels at yahoo.com>
To: "303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum" <303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com>
Sent: Friday, January 05, 2007 10:13 PM
Subject: RE: [303rd-Talk] Re: The Mighty Eighth


> Hi Dave,
>
>  There were exceptions.  I took the tests before being sworn-in  to the 
> Army. My classification was "Aviation Cadet" from the very 
> beginning.........Bill
>
> "Tooley, Dave" <Dave.Tooley at allstate.com> wrote:
>  Scotty,
> I have just finished John Steinbeck's (yes THE John S.) book Bombs Away.
> It was a book written in 1942 to inform potential flyboys and their
> families what to expect as a bomber crew member. Included cadet
> selection, training, etc.
>
>
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