Why carrier air groups need more crews than aircraft

Did the Royal Navy suffer the same pilot shortage as the RAF?

Yes. Carrier aviation ideally needs roughly two aircrews per aircraft so crews can rest and remain trained while the air group keeps flying.

The Royal Navy and RAF both faced persistent pilot shortages. An ideal squadron would have close to two crews for each aircraft so operations can continue while people rest. Personnel depth is part of sortie generation: a carrier with serviceable aircraft can still be constrained if the same crews must fly continuously. Modern carriers can support the higher ratio more effectively because high-fidelity simulators preserve proficiency during long deployments without consuming aircraft hours.