Comments by "" (@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684) on "War Stories"
channel.
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With regard to the OPs contention that they were "all posh kids from the wealthy families", while the "poshies" were over-represented without a doubt in the form of RAF "career" pilots heavily bolstered by the RAF equivalent of the Army's "territorials" these "auxiliary squadrons" were made up of, by definition, rich, civilian aviation enthusiasts who trained part time pre-war.
BUT there was the 3rd way of becoming an RAF pilot. The "RAF volunteer reserve" was a widespread UK Government program introduced in 1936 that as its name suggests was open to volunteers, usually from RAF "other ranks" but also civilians who showed the necessary aptitude for flight training and were trained at UK government expense. Through this program, PLENTY of "ordinary blokes" such as Ray Holmes, Charlton Haw and Maurice Leng, all took part in the battle, usually as "NCO pilots", the vast majority of RAFVR came from "ordinary" backgrounds.
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