RAF Pilot

In 1935 the Royal Air Force was made up of 45,000 officers and airmen and it was proposed to increase this total during 1936 to 50,000. By 1939 the strength of the RAF was up to nearly 150,000 and by May 1945 had reached 1,079,835 men and women. 

The RAF aircrew losses were 70,253 killed or 'missing' in action throughout the war (47,268 from Bomber Command). In addition, 22,924 were wounded and 8,305 died in flying accidents or during training, and 13,115 had become prisoners of war.