The Cream of the Crop

by English, Allan D.

• ISBN13: 9780773513983
• ISBN10: 0773513981
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1996-06-01
• Publisher: McGill Queens Univ

Summary

English describes the development of a uniquely Canadian selection system that attempted to match the aptitudes of aircrew candidates to the duties they would perform and the evolution of the RCAF's training program from a haphazard system with enormous attrition to one that became the model for many modern systems. He traces the development of aviation psychology and the treatment of psychological casualties of air combat. English pays particular attention to the LMF controversy and the RCAF's response as well as the effect of morale and leadership on the psychological well-being of, and casualty rates among, Royal Air Force and RCAF bomber squadrons. In exploring the human dimension of air warfare, an issue that has been widely overlooked in military literature, English demonstrates that personnel considerations have at least as much influence on the effectiveness of air forces as material and technological factors.

Author Biography

Allan D. English teaches war studies at the Royal Military College of Canada.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Illustrations
Introduction	p. 3
"A Good Airman Is Worth a Battalion of Infantry": Aviator Recruiting and Selection, 1914-45	p. 17
Lessons Learned, Lessons Forgotten: Aircrew Training, 1914-45	p. 41
A Predisposition to Cowardice? Aviation Psychology, 1914-45	p. 61
What's in a Name? The RAF and "Lack of Moral Fibre"	p. 81
Conserving the Cream of the Crop: The RCAF and "Lack of Moral Fibre"	p. 103
None for All and One for One: The Canadian Manpower Crisis	p. 131
Conclusion	p. 145
Appendix A: Bomber Command Psychological Casualties	p. 155
Appendix B: Selected Statistics of the Special Cases Committee RCAF "R" Depot	p. 159
Appendix C: RCAF Aircrew NP Ratios in Bomber Command, 1944-45	p. 161
Notes	p. 163
Bibliographical Essay	p. 213
Bibliography	p. 221
Index	p. 235
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