Air crew - Numbered 9-2 - Peter Potter

Air crew - Numbered 9-2 - Peter Potter

Peter explains why he thinks aircrew were different. He talks of training, attitude to discipline and the crew's reliance on each other.

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AIRCREW
Air crew were treated differently from probably any other branch of the services
during the war. Training was extremely demanding but once qualified it was up to
the individual to discipline oneself and to keep up-to-date. Only when new
equipment became available was more training compulsory. However, if refusing
to fly then that airman would be humiliated. To be put on a charge meant you
would not be able to fly. On Bombers that would have meant one less crew.
Therefore, no-one was charged, if at all possible. Crews were so closely reliant on
one another that they would often not accept a stranger.