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Do you mean they fly a different serial numbered aircraft throughout their tour, or if the flew various types of aircraft?
Short answer for both...
Yes for the first one, some for the 2nd one.
Short answer for both...
Yes for the first one, some for the 2nd one.
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
The pilots that delivered the aircraft certainly did!
My Dad went from SBD to F6F to FM2. The Navy guys had their type of combat aircraft they trained and qualified on and when they went to a different type they had to train and qualify on that.
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
As examples for RAF (and Commonwealth) pilots (and aircrew where relevant), in Bomber Command, a pilot (and crew) might have started out on, for example, the Hampden in 1940 or 1941, then converted to the Lancaster, possibly also flying the Halifax, depending on which Squadron(s) he (or they) served on.
In Fighter Command, a pilot might have started on a Hurricane Squadron, which then converted to the Spitfire, then Typhoon or Tempest, or may have eventually been posted to a twin-engined equipped unit, flying the Beaufighter and/or Mosquito.
A lot would depend (in any Air Force) on the date he qualified, and where he was posted to, as well as how many Operational tours he'd fly. This is, of course, not including the progression of types during initial training, advanced training and conversion training.
In Fighter Command, a pilot might have started on a Hurricane Squadron, which then converted to the Spitfire, then Typhoon or Tempest, or may have eventually been posted to a twin-engined equipped unit, flying the Beaufighter and/or Mosquito.
A lot would depend (in any Air Force) on the date he qualified, and where he was posted to, as well as how many Operational tours he'd fly. This is, of course, not including the progression of types during initial training, advanced training and conversion training.
Crimea_River
Marshal
- Thread starter
- #9
No, at least not operationally, because when a unit changed the type it operated it converted over a period of time when it and all its personnel were not operational.
There are possibilities for this to be a relatively short period. For example, in the RAF it might be possible for a Lancaster pilot to be posted somewhere he would fly the Halifax or Sterling with which he may have been familiar, but even then he would have undergone some 'refreshment' before becoming operational.
The difference between a qualified pilot and an operational pilot is something that even some reputable historians have failed to grasp
Cheers
Steve
No, at least not operationally, because when a unit changed the type it operated it converted over a period of time when it and all its personnel were not operational.
There are possibilities for this to be a relatively short period. For example, in the RAF it might be possible for a Lancaster pilot to be posted somewhere he would fly the Halifax or Sterling with which he may have been familiar, but even then he would have undergone some 'refreshment' before becoming operational.
The difference between a qualified pilot and an operational pilot is something that even some reputable historians have failed to grasp
Cheers
Steve
During the BoB some pilots switched between Hurricanes and Spitfires or the other way around for various reasons mainly the desperation of the situation, not in the same squadron but when being switched from one squadron to another.
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I forgot the RAF did operate the B 17 for a while.
Yes they did, but they would still require and get some familiarisation between becoming operational. I can't think of an instance where this happened with a Class A squadron in 11 Group, but if it did the same would have applied unless, just possibly, the pilot in question was experienced on both types.
Cheers
Steve
Agreed but at the height of the battle what is considered adequate for familiarisation may change. In any case were the spitfire and hurricane so different to fly?
Mike Crosley managed to 'blag' a Swordfish to fly south in December '42. He had started one up, but never flown one. He describes flying "at nought feet in 500 yards visibility and with the cliff tops disappearing into the cloud" as he followed the coast.
He also describes his second flight in a Spitfire and the difficulties he experienced at first, particularly with the light elevator control. On trying to formate with a colleague he described the stick forces as so light (after the Hurricane) that "..I was continually over correcting. My Spitfire was prancing up and down beside him like a Mustang."
Crosley at this time was a very experienced fighter pilot, just not on Spitfires.
Cheers
Steve
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