BFTS's
Cliff, please call me Andy.
From my research on the Arnold Scheme and the BFTS scheme, I don't think it was Pearl Harbour that kick-started the BFTS's.
I say that because BFTS1 started in 9 June 1941 along with BFTS2, Pearl Harbour was on Sunday Dec 7th 1941, incidentally I remember Reg telling me that he was at an American football match when it was announced.
What I think is more probable was that the Arnold Scheme (which I believe was USA Army) could not produce enough pilots, hence the BFTS's.
Also there was some resistance to the fallout at Arnold Scheme, the early classes were 45% "washed out", my Uncle was one of them. The BFTS schemes were run under more RAF environment and unlike The Arnold Scheme a cadet stayed at the same airfield to do his Primary, Basic and Advanced training instead of every 10 or 12 weeks moving to another town/airfield.
Cliff hope you don't mind me commenting?
Regards Andy