WesWorld

I know we've discussed pilot manpower and training needs before. Finally I've gotten around to calculating it using a modified version of Bruce's naval manpower sheet.
These figures are of Q4/1945 since we're halfway through 1944 now and this saves me a task later. I'm working on OOBs up to 1947!

RAF
Pilots: 6,195
Aircrew: 9,036
Instructors: 1,733
Pilot and Aircrew Pupils: 5,181
Groundcrew: 29,598
Total (minus trainees, staff officers and non-aviation groundcrew): 46,832


Fleet Air Arm
Pilots: 1,371
Aircrew: 1,148
Instructors: 115
Pilot and Aircrew Pupils: 495
Groundcrew: 4,748
Total (minus trainees, staff officers and non-aviation groundcrew): 7,382


Royal Egyptian Air Force
Pilots: 76
Aircrew: 36
Instructors: 21
Pilot and Aircrew Pupils: 50
Groundcrew: 248
Total (minus trainees, staff officers and non-aviation groundcrew): 381


Royal Iraqi Air Force
Pilots: 103
Aircrew: 12
Instructors: 23
Pilot and Aircrew Pupils: 47
Groundcrew: 349
Total (minus trainees, staff officers and non-aviation groundcrew): 487


Royal Iraqi Navy Air Force
Pilots: 26
Aircrew: 40
Instructors: 13
Pilot and Aircrew Pupils: 46
Groundcrew: 113
Total (minus trainees, staff officers and non-aviation groundcrew): 192


Fuerza Aereas Argentinas
Pilots: 1,085
Aircrew: 840
Instructors: 190
Pilot and Aircrew Pupils: 469
Groundcrew: 3,781
Total (minus trainees, staff officers and non-aviation groundcrew): 5,896


Aviacion Commando Naval Argentinas
Pilots: 388
Aircrew: 516
Instructors: 82
Pilot and Aircrew Pupils: 225
Groundcrew: 1,645
Total (minus trainees, staff officers and non-aviation groundcrew): 2,631


Paraguayan Air Force
Pilots: 54
Aircrew: 88
Instructors: 9
Pilot and Aircrew Pupils: 18
Groundcrew: 194
Total (minus trainees, staff officers and non-aviation groundcrew): 345


Notes
Aircrew includes navigators, radio operators, gunners, bomb-aimers etc.
Instructors and pupils cover all levels of training whether basic, advanced, navigator or tactical training or operational conversion courses etc. The ratio of instructors to trainees varies by type of training. Consider these to be 'flying' instructors rather than all ground-based teachers.

I am curious how you determined the number of groundcrew required, and how this compares to the number of aircraft in the hands of first-line units.

2x personnel for each fighter and basic trainer and light transports
3x personnel for each jet fighter and each single-engine bomber (not torpedo bombers) and large fighter-bombers and naval single-engine strike fighters
4x personnel for each twin-engine fighters and small twin-engine bombers, torpedo bombers, small flying boats and navigation/ radio trainers
5x personnel for each medium and large transports
6x personnel for each large medium bomber and flying boats
13x personnel for each strategic bomber and large flying boat

This covers all aircraft whether in frontline, training or auxiliary roles but not aircraft in storage with ASU units, and of course the FAA groundcrew would be increased by those personnel aboard carriers when the aircraft are at sea.


Instructors are calculated as 0.5 per aircraft for dedicated training aircraft of all types with 1 per aircraft for some radio and navigation trainers. For operational conversion units and staff colleges and tactical development units instructors are calculated at 0.25 per aircraft. Again ground teachers, Link trainer crews and other staff are not included.