Twenty naval air stations in Britain provided different parts of the fleet's aviation support. Of 817 civilian volunteers for Fleet Air Arm short-service commissions in 1954-55, the quoted selection figures leave only 96 entering flying training after tests, medical examinations, interviews, withdrawals, and naval instruction. Caspar John connected demanding selection to the increasing complexity and cost of aircraft, comparing a £5,750 Seafire with a modern replacement costing a quarter of a million pounds. Pilots and observers then needed roughly eighteen to twenty-four months to acquire the professional skills required for an operational squadron. Qualified crews joined squadrons whose combination aboard a carrier had to meet the fleet's operational requirements. Squadrons cycled through formation, embarkation, and disbandment, while their carrier went through maintenance, work-up, deployment, and refit. Matching the two cycles required coordinated training, aircraft preparation, logistics, and support. The Flag Officer Air Home oversaw this work from Lee-on-Solent, an administrative post John held.
Notable Point · 3:20:20-3:22:49
Training crews and synchronizing a carrier air group
Selective recruitment, lengthy flying training, and coordinated squadron and ship schedules were necessary to put an operational carrier air group to sea.