I never really knew my grandad, but he was a flight instructor during World War Two, and mum has shared many stories about him. By her account, he said that the average life expectancy for newly trained RAAF pilots was just six weeks once they went overseas. I realize there are a number of factors that need to be considered here - which period of the war he was referring to, which theatre he was referring to, or indeed either he or my mother misremembered his claims.
Ultimately, whether there's any truth to his purported claims regarding mortality rates for RAAF pilots, I also know very little about the role of the RAAF during the Second World War. If anyone would be able to clarify the RAAF's main activities and areas of operation, that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
It depends on his job. Different parts of the air force had different survival rates. Beaufighter torp bombers under coastal command had some of the worst rates going (they had a year when not a single crew survived a tour of duty) as did rear gunners (4/6 weeks).
It varied however at different stages as tactics changed. Some points of the BoB you had a very short pilot life expectancy, however this extended later on in the war. Similar with changes in theatres.
Without knowing where and on what he served its not really possible to say accurately what he was doing or how long his expectancy was
They generally seconded into the UK after training (in Australia or Canada, or the UK) and then manned individual squadrons in the east or over Europe. Initially as part of RAF squadrons but often as more RAAF pilots came through RAAF individual squadrons came up. Bomber command however usually operated mixed crews.
The far East is a slightly different ball game.
Overall however 6 weeks is not an extraordinary claim for some jobs at certain times. It's worth noting also that flight training itself was very dangerous at this time, almost as bad as combat squadrons, and certainly wasn't an easy way out for the pupils or instructors