fw 190a5 flight model

[lonewulf]

Originally Posted by Pursuivant

I think it's fairer to say that fighter pilots were selected for certain attributes - notably aggressiveness, aerobatic skill and g-tolerances - from the pool of available pilots.

There are plenty of examples of WW2 era pilots who started off in fighters and then ended up in other sorts of planes (notably, many AVG members), as well as pilots who started off flying attack planes or bombers and who switched to fighters.

Yes, I agree that some people did transfer between Commands; sure. However, I think it nonsense to suggest that fighter pilots were carefully selected because they somehow demonstrated an aggressiveness, or offensive spirit found lacking in other, less plucky pilots. Just how this offensive spirit would be demonstrated in training I'm not really sure. Perhaps they selected cadets who got into fights down the pub or who were caught 'raking' opposition players during inter-squadron rugger matches. Not sure. Anyway, when you think about it, isn't it more likely that pilots with demonstrable leadership skills and technical ability would be assigned to the more arduous and complex responsibility to be found in aircraft with more than one engine. Do you for example believe that the Dams Raid would have been more successful if fighter pilots had been drafted in to fly the operation?