What did a RAF pilot do in ww2?

The aircrews of RAF Bomber Command during World War II operated a fleet of bomber aircraft carried strategic bombing operations from September 1939 to May 1945, on behalf of the Allied powers.

How many pilots did the RAF have in ww2?

By one tally, British RAF aircrew numbered 2,353 (80%) of the total of 2,927 flyers involved, with 407 Britons killed from a total of 510 losses.

Who was the best RAF pilot in ww2?

Top 10 RAF Fighter Aces of WWII

  1. 1 – Marmaduke Thomas St John Pattle (left)
  2. 2 – James Edgar Johnson.
  3. 3 – Pierre Clostermann.
  4. 4 – George Frederick Beurling.
  5. 5 – William Vale.
  6. 6 – Robert Roland Stanford Tuck.
  7. 7 – John Randall Daniel Braham (right)
  8. 8 – Brendan Eamon Fergus Finucane.

How many RAF pilots survived ww2?

The most dangerous were the first and last five trips. During the whole war, 51% of aircrew were killed on operations, 12% were killed or wounded in non-operational accidents and 13% became prisoners of war or evaders. Only 24% survived the war unscathed.

How many RAF pilots were killed in the Battle of Britain?

544 pilots
losses. Both sides suffered heavy losses during the Battle of Britain – 544 pilots, which was about one in six, from RAF Fighter Command were killed and 2,500 Luftwaffe airmen lost their lives.

How many black RAF pilots were there in ww2?

John Jellicoe Blair Soon, the RAF welcomed and trained nearly 500 black Caribbean aircrew into its ranks, along with around 6,000 Caribbean ground crew. They trained as pilots, navigators, air-gunners, flight engineers as well as wireless operators and all of them had joined voluntarily.

Who was the best RAF pilot?

Number of Victories: 29 John Randall Daniel “Bob” Braham (6 April 1920 – 7 February 1974) was a Royal Air Force (RAF) night fighter pilot and the most highly decorated airman in RAF Fighter Command. Braham joined the RAF on a five-year short service commission in December 1937 and began basic training in March 1938.

How to become a pilot in the RAF?

a passion for aviation

  • technical aptitude
  • spatial awareness
  • aptitude for numbers and data analysis
  • the ability to remain calm under pressure
  • problem-solving ability
  • attention to detail
  • the ability to work well in a team
  • excellent communication skills
  • confidence

    • What did RAF pilots eat in World War 2?

    Pilot. The pilot of a bomber crew flew the aircraft throughout the operation and co-ordinated the actions of the other crew members.

  • Flight Engineer. The role of flight engineer was introduced in 1942 as the new heavy bombers required seven-man crews.
  • Wireless Operator.

    • What was a RAF pilot in World War 2?

    Eric Stanley Lock (19 April 1919 – 3 August 1941) was a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilot and flying ace with a victory total of 20 German fighter aircraft, 18 of them Messerschmitt Bf 109s. Lock was born in Shrewsbury and had his first experience of flying as a teenager (on his 14th birthday his father treated him to a five-shilling, 15-minute flight with Sir Alan Cobham’s Air Circus).

    Did RAF pilot eat blueberries during WW2?

    It can also be found in cod liver oil, milk and eggs. Another fruit famed for its ability to boost night vision is blueberries. Anecdotal evidence from RAF pilots in World War Two shows they felt their night vision improved after eating blueberries.