Airfield bombing and pilots killed

[Puhis]

I have always thought that pilots are quite save when airfield is bombed, even though planes are destoyed. But are they?

In my game against allied AI, it send 3 or 4 TF bombing Lunga. I lost just 2 zeros and 1 val, although airfield and airbase got 50-80 damage. But then I noticed that my vals have only 8 pilots left. So it seems that 19 pilots were killed! Lunga had level 3 fortifications.

Does anyone knows better how the game works? Is this typical, or just bad luck?

[Kingfisher]

They might not necessarily be killed, but temporarily incapacitated. Look to see if the numbers increase when (or if) the airbase is repaired.

[Puhis]

ORIGINAL: Kingfisher

They might not necessarily be killed, but temporarily incapacitated. Look to see if the numbers increase when (or if) the airbase is repaired.

Every airgroup get replacement pilots, right? I guess I have to check if those new ones have flown any missions. Zero missions means that they are rookies.

[Kingfisher]

From the manual:

During the Supply Ops phase, units that have more ready aircraft than pilots will have new pilots assigned to the unit from the pilot replacement pool.

It appears you will have to wait until the 19 Vals are repaired before you get additional pilots.