Q&A · 1:49:59-1:50:21

How would Japan crew many more carrier air groups?

Japan would have to relax its exceptionally strict standards or expand the same intensive training system dramatically to fill the new carrier decks.

Question

How would carrier proliferation affect Japan's naval pilot training plan?

Short answer

Japan would either relax its demanding standards to produce more aviators or expand the same intensive system, with the latter more likely.

Notes

A larger carrier fleet creates a personnel problem as well as a shipbuilding programme. Japan has two possible responses: relax its demanding standards or expand the existing intensive training system dramatically. The second course is judged more likely.