Geoffrey Wellum article on BBC website

but officers were given special regard by the media.

but the “Media” did not exist back in the 1940s……….!! We just had the “wireless” and newspapers.

As an ex-aircrew NCO, I would say there was a selection of good and bad among all classes, but the perception from on high was we NCOs were definitely second class citizens. This was more marked by the army officers attitude, I well remember our squadron CO bringing a Tank Corps colonel into the crew room to meet us. Said colonel stopped abruptly at the door when he realised at least 40% were NCOs, and said to our CO “I suppose you have to take an NCO along to do the work”, turned on his heel and hurried out.

The BBC drama First light,based on his book, was shockingly good viewing and dispelled the often promoted notion that all wartime pilots were gung ho upper class hooray henries.

Civil aviation pre war was, necessarily, the preserve of the wealthy. Only the wealthy middle and upper classes could afford the associated costs. With that wealth came private education and public schools. So, wealthy airminded young men with a public school background joined the RAF, which had by then, the reputation of an exclusive flying club.

The advent of war and the requirement for enlargement of the armed forces particularly the RAF, ensured that that ‘club’ reputation and exclusivity rapidly went by the board. There was another, slightly more unsavoury side of recruitment to the armed forces. There was a belief prevalent among Staff personnel, that non commissioned officers were slightly less inclined to be effective in the prosecution of their jobs than their commissioned bretheren.

Wrong; as well as patronising to an extreme.

Well you would. But, we’re not exactly in the middle of another world war – which was the relevant point.

What’s wrong with ‘gung-ho upper class, hooray Henry’s ??’

Judging by the ones running the country at the moment, I’d say ‘plenty’!

They did share in the glory and also the sacrifice,however a perception was created that certain types of background would deny you the chance to be a fighter pilot. NCO aircrew played a huge part in operations but officers were given special regard by the media.

What’s wrong with ‘gung-ho upper class, hooray Henry’s ??’

Did they get the job done ?

The BBC drama First light,based on his book, was shockingly good viewing and dispelled the often promoted notion that all wartime pilots were gung ho upper class hooray henries.