§ 8. Mr. Thomas Fraserasked the Secretary of State for Air how many operational flights are normally undertaken by men on air-crew duty before they are grounded; and how many such flights have to be undertaken to secure for a man his rank after being grounded.
§ The Secretary of State for Air (Sir Archibald Sinclair)The length of the operational tour of air-crew varies with the type of operational flying they do. When they complete the tour they are normally transferred to flying duties of a non-operational kind. Air-crew who have carried out any operational flying and are fully fit for flying duties retain their rank if they are withdrawn for other employment; so do air-crew who are withdrawn from operational flying on account of wounds or sickness.
§ Mr. FraserIs it the case that men on air-crew duties with Bomber Command, for instance, are grounded after a number of operational flights because their nerves go, and that they are then demoted?
§ Sir A. SinclairThat is another question. If my hon. Friend has any particular cases of that kind that he wishes to discuss with me, I shall be glad if he will do so afterwards.
§ Mr. FraserBut is it not the practice of the Air Ministry to take that course with men after operational flights, sometimes after they have been decorated for gallantry as well?
§ Sir A. SinclairNo, Sir; not if it is a question of purely medical considerations. But this is a very difficult matter, which
| V.C. | D.S.O. | Bar to D.S.O. | D.F.C. | Bar to D.F.C. | Total | ||
| Royal Air Force | … | 13 | 426 | 37 | 4,925 | 413 | 5,814 |
| Auxiliary Air Force | … | — | 16 | 2 | 83 | 8 | 109 |
| Totals | … | 13 | 442 | 39 | 5,008 | 421 | 5,923 |