2007-04-14 21:35:29 · 5 answers · asked by pauline_doolan 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Sounds about right, and it's the same for US air crews.
Pilots are officers, air crews are enlisted.
(Sergeant is actually a pretty high rank. The only higher ranks among enlisted military serve in administrative, often command, positions.)
2007-04-14 21:40:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where did this lot get their misinformation......
In both the British RAF & Australian Air Force there were both commissioned & non commissioned air crew .
Many pilots started off as Sergeants but due to high casualties were commissioned later .Same applied to other air crew .There were officers among Navigators , Wireless Air Gunners etc as well as non coms .The irony is you could have a Sergeant Pilot & a crewman who was of commissioned rank !
Please do your homework before answering or we might as well not bother with this forum .
2007-04-15 06:09:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The assigned ranks for Pilots, navigators, etc were Officer grades. All other grades were assigned the rank of Sergeant. There are many instances in the RAF in WW2 of Sergeant pilots. These were tradesmen from the training base at RAF Halton that had done so well in their examinations (etc.) that they were offered the chance to train as pilots. These pilots served in all branches of the RAF.
Certainly in Fighter Command it was not unusual for the flight commander to be a Sergeant, particularly when you consider their training and background.
2007-04-15 05:44:21 · answer #3 · answered by Mike B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the entire Uk Military is still riddled with Class Distinction!
At the outbreak of WWII men and women, from the free world, including many who'd managed to escape the Nazi invaders, came to the UK, offered their services, prepared to fight on and secure their countries ultimate freedom.
However, the UK Govt categorised them and put the majority of them in the ranks. Many objected to this and the UK Govt was forced to establish Polish, French, Dutch, American and other common wealth units i.e. officer corps - the RAF High Command didn't like it but had to do!
However, they remained adamant with their own Air Force, refusing men commissions and only making them NCO's E.g, if u didn't have the right education, background and voice - u were treated like ****!
It still prevails today!!
2007-04-15 05:10:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was an enlisted man's job. Officers were the pilots, the crew were the grunts.
2007-04-15 04:45:18 · answer #5 · answered by Fordman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋