Sergeant Pilot
Encyclopedia
A Sergeant Pilot was a non-commissioned officer who had undergone flight training
and was a qualified pilot
in the air force
s of several Commonwealth
countries and in the United States Army Air Force before, during and after World War II
where they were called Flying Sergeants. After World War II, non-commissioned pilots began to be phased out and today all air force pilots are commissioned officers. In the United States, the Flight Officer Act ended enlisted men's chances of undergoing flight training.
In Commonwealth air forces, a Sergeant
Pilot (Pilot IV, III or II from 1946 to 1950) could be promoted to Flight Sergeant
Pilot (Pilot I from 1946 to 1950) and Warrant Officer
Pilot (renamed Master Pilot
in 1946). Many went on to be commissioned. There were still Master Pilots flying helicopters with the Royal Air Force
at least into the early 1970s.
Flight training
Flight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills....
and was a qualified pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
in the air force
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
s of several Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
countries and in the United States Army Air Force before, during and after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
where they were called Flying Sergeants. After World War II, non-commissioned pilots began to be phased out and today all air force pilots are commissioned officers. In the United States, the Flight Officer Act ended enlisted men's chances of undergoing flight training.
In Commonwealth air forces, a Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
Pilot (Pilot IV, III or II from 1946 to 1950) could be promoted to Flight Sergeant
Flight Sergeant
Flight sergeant is a senior non-commissioned rank in the British Royal Air Force and several other air forces which have adopted all or part of the RAF rank structure...
Pilot (Pilot I from 1946 to 1950) and Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
Pilot (renamed Master Pilot
Master Aircrew
Master aircrew is the warrant-officer rank held by aircrew in the Royal Air Force. It is equivalent to warrant officer in other trades, and is effectively the highest non-commissioned aircrew rank...
in 1946). Many went on to be commissioned. There were still Master Pilots flying helicopters with the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
at least into the early 1970s.