These pilots were no longer members of the US armed forces, but rather their designation was as employees of the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company. This company was in charge of hiring and paying the newly recruited pilots, whose official job was to manufacture, repair, and operate planes for training and instructional purposes. They were offered a one-year contract with this company for their services.
Their salaries ranged from $250 to $750, although the ground crew were the ones earning salaries towards the bottom of the pay scale. A pilot officer would be given $600 per month, $675 per month for a flight leader, and $750 a month for a squadron leader, however no pilot was actually recruited at the level of squadron leader. In addition to their salary they would receive traveling expenses, $30 per month for rations, 30 days leave with pay, and quarters to be housed in. The most intriguing part of the payment schedule was a rumor told to the pilots by the Chinese government. The rumor was that a $500 bonus would be paid for each confirmed Japanese plane destroyed. This bonus was later confirmed by Madame Chiang Kai-Shek and extended to include any planes destroyed on the ground that could be confirmed.
