 Keen to follow up his interest in aviation , Johnson started taking flying lessons at his own expense . He applied to join the Auxiliary Air Force ( AAF ) but encountered some of the social problems that were rife in British society at the time . Johnson strongly felt he was rejected on the grounds of his class status . Johnson 's fortunes were to improve . As the chances of war increased in the aftermath of the Munich Crisis , the standards of the RAF were relaxed , however , as the service expanded and brought in men from ordinary social backgrounds . Johnson re @-@ applied to the AAF . He was informed that sufficient pilots were already available but there were some vacancies in the balloon squadrons . Johnson rejected the offer . 
