SAM
"Not many USAF FJ pilots could endure that - but quite a number of (young) ex USAF personnel who were recruited by the CIA were up to scratch."
How can ex USAF be up to scratch but USAF FJ pilots not be ?
Are you saying the successful one's were not FJ pilots, just USAF pilots ?
Either way, it's a very general statement, bit like saying all orphans make good SF Soldiers because they are independent.
Re age, here are the ages of 2 CIA pilots who died.
"Carey was less than three weeks shy of his 34th birthday when he died. "
2nd one "He was 30 years old"
Gary Powers was 27 when he joined the CIA, having resigned the USAF as a Capt.
Are these the type of ages you were talking about ? I got the impression you were talking younger than that.
Also, how come in a list of U2 pilots, the majority tend to be Capt, Maj, a few 1 Lt and a few Lt Col's and Col's and a few Sqn Ldr's / Wg Cmd;s in there from the RAF. Now you don't make Capt / Maj by Aged 22.
SAM
Be very specific - What ages do you think most U2 pilots were ?
Last edited by 500N; 8th Dec 2011 at 11:55.