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How long was fighter pilot training in WW2?
The time taken to qualify as a pilot could vary. At the start of the war it could be as little as six months (150 flying hours). On average it took between 18 months to two years (200-320 flying hours). The pathway taken to becoming a pilot also changed during the course of the war.
How long does it take to learn how do you fly a fighter jet?
Air Force pilots take part in pre-flight and academic training, followed by 22 weeks of primary training. Get an aircraft assignment. Each branch offers basic flight training followed by advanced training on a specific aircraft.
What was the average age of a World War II fighter pilot?
In WW2, fighter pilots on all sides tended to be a very youthful bunch. 21 or 22 was about average; 25 was considered mature, and 30 positively old aged! Yet there were many successful WW2 fighter pilots aged around 30, some even older. The names of Bader and Malan spring to mind – both 30 in 1940.
What was the life expectancy of a World War 1 pilot?
World War I fighter pilots had a typical life expectancy of several weeks while flying in combat. Several weeks. Not much at all. In terms of flying hours, a combat pilot could count on 40 to 60 hours before being killed, at least in the early part of the war.
How many Luftwaffe pilots died in ww2?
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.
What was the average age of a B 17 pilot?
What was the average age of US B17 pilots? – Quora. It was probably around 25. Bear in mind that the Army Air Force in 1945 was ten times larger, possibly more, than it was in 1941 and that they had to recruit many new officers – most of which were in their early 20s.
What did it take to become a military pilot in WWII?
If they got through the basic training, pilots moved on to the intermediate and advanced stages. US Marine Corps N3N-3 over Parris Island, 1942. A lot of theoretical knowledge was needed before a pilot could undertake the practicalities of combat flying. It was classroom based, and much of it was rooted in maths and science.
How many planes were made in WW2?
• 276,000 aircraft manufactured in the US . • 43,000 planes lost overseas, including 23,000 in combat. The US civilian population maintained a dedicated effort for four years, many working long hours seven days per week and often also volunteering for other work. WWII was the largest human effort in history.
What happened to pilots after basic training?
It sifted out men who struggled with flying at all, never mind in the difficult circumstances of combat and aircraft carrier landings. If they got through the basic training, pilots moved on to the intermediate and advanced stages. US Marine Corps N3N-3 over Parris Island, 1942.
How many flight hours does it take to become a pilot?
Alongside the classroom learning, pilots gained experience in the air. 69 flight hours were expected during basic training. Then another 28 in intermediate training – 18 hours after they had been assigned to a type of plane. A lot of these flights took place in training planes such as the N3N and the T-6 Texan.