kaleun -> RE: Allied pilots turnaround (12/28/2004 7:04:49 PM)
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IIRC (I don't have the reference at work[Havoc]) the 30 mission thingie applied mostly to the ETO. The way I understand it, the attrition was such that the brass could not count on pilots lasting more than the 30 missions, so they just took them out of the line. Pilot attrition seemed to be lower in the PTO, also the distances being much longer and so. If my memory serves, the piolets stayed in theater until they requested to leave, which they could do after 50 missions or so. Apparently often it was the flight surgeons who "suggested" to the pilots to apply for transfer. Again, I am going by what the author whose name escapes me reported in "Havoc"
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