Having more pilots than fighters is not uncommon. Even in the US squadrons will often have more pilots than planes. It's why you'll see multiple pilots names on a plane especially in ANG units. Also several aircraft were destroyed on the ground. Those aircraft had pilots now with no airplanes to fly...

Having more pilots than fighters is not uncommon. Even in the US squadrons will often have more pilots than planes. It's why you'll see multiple pilots names on a plane especially in ANG units.