[Observer1940]

Moved from other thread as this thread is more appropriate for my comment.

I am not at all surprised at the numbers of ground crew employed, as an Operational Bomber Command Station had between 1,800 to 2,200 staff of all levels, grades and trades.

Also around 1940 aircraft servicing hours were reduced from 60 hours to 30 hours on some aircraft types with minor servicing and checks after each op or flight.

Also some of the Command's aircraft had numerous modifications such as the Whitley (one of the most modified aircraft on the RAF fleet) and some were being extensively stripped to embody a structural tail beam modification (twice in WW2), structural wing bracing to the wing, de-icing equipment to wing, airscrew, windscreen, carburettor intake, cabin heating, pitot head and pipe changes, Exactor control joints and pipe mods, oil feed and engine coolant, fire extinguishing mods, wireless type changes and blind landing equipment etc., etc., etc., and repeated complete strips of the elevator assembly to embody several elevator assembly modifications. The official mods list for the Whitley V would have created an absolutely massive workload alone. Engine failure rates were high too, requiring engine rebuilds and modified engine blocks (requiring a complete engine strip).

Also you had the routine lighter crash and damage repair (although some aircraft went to Contractors or the Group's Maintenance Station), a heck of a lot was done at the RAF Station and these people have little credit (unsung) and their routine workload along with a continous issue of modifications sheets was absolutely massive.

Mark