In WWII, Spitfires were flown by young lads trained in Tiger Moths, then possibly a few hours in a more demanding type, and after a very short apprenticship were dogfighting the Nazi intruders.
For a first hand account by one of these "young lads", read First Light by Geoffrey "Boy" Wellum. He flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain, aged 19.
The best book by a WWII pilot that I have read.
