When I was being trained (1958) there was a big shortage of Navs
When I did my assessment in Salisbury, S Rhodesia they offered me a post as a navigator instead of my wish to be a pilot because of a problem with my sight. I dithered but my father, ex RAF pilot, said.
"If you are going to be killed in an aeroplane you may as well be flying it."
I went to a high class optician who declared that there was nothing wrong with my eyes so I went back to the RAF. Another assessment, this time as a pilot.
Interestingly, this exact account is now the official version of events on the Aviation Safety Network
Who was the third person in the aeroplane?