Gentlemen,
Once again I have to agree with BEagle as your reasoning would have deprived the RAF of such people as Air Commodore Freddie West VC; Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader DSO* DFC* and Sgt Colin Hutchison - all amputees.
Those who advocate utilising the Army's approach woul do well to remember the Royal Artillery Warrant Officer who was deemed too old (at 55) for active duty and was sent as an Anti-Aircraft Liaision Officer to Bomber Command Headquarters for the duration.
This Gentleman (at the end of Operations in Europe in 1945) was awarded by the RAF the DFC as, in his "off duty" periods, he participated in Bomber Operations as a volunteer Air Gunner. He completed one operation for each year of his life - which by the end of hostilities was 62!!!!