Chaser, without exception, I suspect everyone in game has had that happen at some time or other - I certainly have. The best advice I can give you, if you want to fly a plane, is get with a trainer - they are freely available, work to get together with you when times coincide, and make the flying part much easier to a. understand, and b. be more enjoyable.
Yes, it sucks when you get hit by flak, but it happens, it happened in the war too. This game will give you many lumps and bumps, best plan is to learn from them and not make the same mistake again.
For the rest of you, quit giving him grief and try giving him advice to help him out - this is how people are driven away from the game, and how we lose potential pilots.
Wurz