Hang on, Mr C, ...in a less than fair way...".
They were on contracts, that were employing them after the time that they would normally have been discharged, which allowed them to say to the RAF, "I'm off" and be out in 3 months. Yet the other way round (in accordance with the same agreements that they had freely signed up to), they got 6 months notice.
I know it's a general feel sorry for ourselves moment, but how was that not 'fair'?