Where have all the pilots gone?

[Harpoon_GER]

Campaign 15, around March 1942:

I have managed to ship some B17s (well almost 110 B17s) to Port Moresby that is full of air supporting guys, has fuel and supplies above 50000 and is growing like crazy.

Well this should be a nice force to bombard Rabaul into stoneage, but when I check the 2 squadrons they have only 8 or 9 pilots ready each. As if the ships only transported nice shiny planes without pilots.

Question: How can I get enough pilots. Both air groups where not used in a way that they might have lost so many pilots yet. Are they on vacation??

[mogami]

Hi, Aircraft transported on ships arrive in damage condition and must be repaired. The rate they repair is a product of base size and support. It might take a month or two to ready 110 B-17's from damaged condition to flying condition. It's better to unload in Sydney or Brisbane and when the groups have repaired fly them to PM.