Quote:
Originally Posted by canadiancitizen
I have to take issue with the number quoted of Americans who flew in the RAF ? Over 5,000 ? Not likely. More like 500 or so. And the RAF was looking for pilots who had 200 hours in their log books, not untrained rookies with no flying experience at all.
When the USA finally joined the war in December of 1941, all of the Americans in both the RCAF and the RAF, were given the chance to transfer to the USAAF. Some did some didn't. A further thing to remember is that many Americans joined under a " assumed name " to get around the US Neutrality Act " that forbid service in a "foreign army ". Some died under that identity too , and are buried with that name on their grave stone.
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The article I posted from World War II magazine clearly stated that despite accepting over 6,700 American volunteers from the Sweeny operation for pilot training in the RAF only 244 Americans flew in the three Eagle Squadrons. Many were found to have exaggerated their flying time in their log books so it can be easily inferred that these were the volunteers who didn't make it to the Eagle Squadrons to fly in the RAF. The over 5,000 number was clearly stated as accepted for training only.
It's good you pointed out that many US volunteers fought under an assumed name. That's something to look at more closely.