Question of the Day - Why are Pilots Held to a Different Standard

I understand the romanticism of the dogfight in the air. But there is not such a fight in this case

honestly... russki pilots send majority of missiles to bomb Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. I think only 'respect' the deserve is to be hunted down after all this is over. They are solely responsible for pressing the trigger. It was their choice sitting in cockpits, no one else's.

I guess you wasn't on receiving end of missiles those bastards send to Ukrainian cities to write this

From my recent reading regarding the Battle of Britain there is a range of reactions at the time combat is occurring, with many pilots exhibiting chivalry toward the opposition. This sometimes changes once combat losses increase, due to personal loss of friends or if the opposition is perceived to be more ruthless (for example shooting up bailed out pilots). From the other combat arms all soldiers exist under the same privations and come to realise they are primarily there at the behest of politicians. We share those common bonds and can mostly look past the killing when meeting at a later time. The exceptions will be dependent upon the brutality experience during the conflict. From WW2 the Pacific and Eastern Front campaigns would make post war camaraderie difficult for most participants. Air-wars mostly isolate the individuals from committing violence directly on each other and hence reduces the perception of an individual's brutality. This allow combatants to see the opposition in a more hospitable light. Also the shared experience of training and danger during training in a very specialised field creates a shared elitism which translates to post conflict camaraderie

It's a difficult and very interesting question. First and foremost, I think it's a recognition of skill. We see it amongst all of the 'specialist' military trades that pit a particular cunning against their direct opposition. But it is difficult to accept that Russian pilots, to use the example specifically in this discussion, deserve that mutual respect when they're complicit in targeting civilians and their infrastructure, with high precision guided bombs and such.

Luke

Well that too

Gerasimov is working really hard this days in fake news

Let’s start with your premise and agree with it. We have traditionally held air crews in general, and pilots in particular to a higher standard. And we can toss the low end of the curve out (gunning down parachutists). If I have to think about this for any period of time I have to start with intelligence. Of all the day to day trigger pullers, ignoring the highly trained specialists who should never see a shot fired at them and medical professionals, pilots have to be up there. And yes, submarine personnel are not to be ignored, but they are a team. So pilots must be well rounded education wise to handle the mechanical and logical use of the weapon. They can’t be an engineer 100%, Or a physicist, or a philosopher. They must have a well rounded grasp of the world. And that includes humanities, logic and psychology. Math in a 4D environment is crucial, but so is anticipation and cunning. Putting this together means the best know when to apply x, vs y or z. And when not to. So carry out a mission, sure. But when a grey zone is reached, maybe not acting is just as important as acting. Call it intelligent restraint.

Jeffrey Price

They are still Russian soldiers who intentionally destroy bomb shelters, schools, maternity hospitals and the like. No, they don’t get more respect just because they are pilots.