Over 5,000 men did the direct transfer Army to RAF plus a unknown number of ex Army 1919 to 1939 that decided to volunteer for RAF service before conscription took place.
So a number but not a drove.
Lots of factors at play here - not least the vivid family perception of trench warfare. Also was that public and service perception was of a technical modern RAF compared to a largely under equipped Army and after Dunkirk/Battle of Britain one that was defensive in outlook rather than offensive.
Come late 1944 it was a different direction - Army units were disbanding due to lack of manpower. RAF aircrew losses were a fraction of estimated leading to an excess of trained aircrew that were not being used operationally. Newly qualified power pilots were being transferred wholesale to the Army in particular to Glider Pilot Regiment to make up for losses in Normandy and Netherlands ready for Rhine Crossing. Much objections from the pilots involved.
Ross
