Pay scale for RFC NCO pilots and flight pay

[Flying High]

What was the pay scales for RFC NCO pilots and what was their flight pay?

[Graeme]

At the outbreak of war, the daily rates of pay were - Sergeant-Major 9s 0d; Flight Sergeant 7s 0d; Sergeant 6s 0d; Corporal 5s 0d; Air Mechanic 1st Class 4s 0d and Air Mechanic 2nd Class 2s 0d. In addition to these rates, flying pay was 4s 0d per day to a qualified first-class pilot and 2s 0d per day to a qualified second-class pilot.

The rates of pay effective from 1 April 1918 were carried in Flight of 21 March 1918:

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchi...0-%200317.html

Flying pay remained 4 shillings for a first-class pilot and 2 shillings for a second-class pilot; those under instruction received 1 shilling per day.

Graeme

[missouri mule]

and this translates into dollars and cents at what rate? No offense intended, I just don't know the exchange rate in 1914-1918 pounds to dollars.

[Graeme]

In 1915, the earliest data I can find for currency exchange purposes starts on 13 January 1915, £1 was equal to $4.70. Based on that rate, a Sgt-Major was paid $2.12 per day, a Flt Sgt $1.65, a Sergeant $1.41, a Corporal $1.18, an Air Mechanic 1st Class $0.94 and an Air Mechanic 2nd Class $0.47.

Flying pay a qualified first-class pilot would have been $0.94 per day and $0.47 per day to a qualified second-class pilot.

As far as I can see, the rate stayed pretty much the same throughout WW1, probably because Britain used the Gold Standard, so rates would be based on gold being bought over here and shipped to the USA for sale.

One site I have come across suggests that the value of £1 in 1915 would be £71.87 today.

Graeme