tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post1925829615098290046..comments2024-03-18T16:33:31.633+00:00Comments on Capitalists@Work: Weekend: NCO Pilots in the RAFCityUnslickerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15929544047783163175noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-23102787556033968662020-08-08T20:09:30.448+01:002020-08-08T20:09:30.448+01:00patently - thanks for that contact. As it happens...<b>patently</b> - thanks for that contact. As it happens, for a particular reason I do quite a bit of research on military aviation and that may be very sueful Nick Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13670594203660051701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-87514815618433549882020-08-03T13:03:09.003+01:002020-08-03T13:03:09.003+01:00Nick - if you want to look into this in more detai...Nick - if you want to look into this in more detail and feel like some help, it might be fruitful to have a chat to Wg Cdr Gardner (http://eprofile.exeter.ac.uk/sophygardner/). <br /><br />I (literally) haven't spoken to her since we were in the University Air Squadron together, but since then she has served in the RAF and moved to academia where she is researching early RAF history. patentlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00602962323262055007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-18460182556195578092020-08-03T12:37:02.435+01:002020-08-03T12:37:02.435+01:00I was put in charge of an undergraduate lab. I as...I was put in charge of an undergraduate lab. I assembled the lads and lassies for a briefing just before term began. "I'm in charge" said I. They smiled. "I shall be assisted by my Head of Department and several postgraduate students". They looked slightly puzzled. "That says a helluva lot for the Head of Department". And it did.deariemenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-28947278689261877772020-08-03T08:09:58.059+01:002020-08-03T08:09:58.059+01:00OGC - @ I also understand that in RN and army the ...<b>OGC</b> - @ <i>I also understand that in RN and army the senior rank is in charge</i><br /><br />for the army I can say that I was many times in situations where someone has been in charge - formally - who was of a lower rank than myself<br /><br />being in a helicopter flown by an NCO was one such category: but even more pedestrian and frequent, when firing on the range, the Range Conducting Officer was frequently an SNCO, and as they would never fail to remind everyone "while you are on this range, My Word Is Law!"<br /><br />Nick Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13670594203660051701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-68198979940723740332020-08-02T20:35:07.363+01:002020-08-02T20:35:07.363+01:00There is a very readable book that includes some d...There is a very readable book that includes some discussion of this. "The Paladins" by John James, subtitle "A Social History of the RAF up to the outbreak of World War II". In particular Chapter 8, "Officers and Pilots".<br />From the author biography: "In 1949 he joined what was then called the Air Ministry as a psychologist and stayed with it for 32 years".<br />abebooks have around 30 copies available.<br />Relurks...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-72853561658716199062020-08-02T17:08:52.303+01:002020-08-02T17:08:52.303+01:00My first flight was in 1955 at ATC camp in a Varsi...My first flight was in 1955 at ATC camp in a Varsity the pilot was a WO1 . As a matter of interest my second flip was in a B29 which I value.<br /><br />After this camp a result of theft of mail I was interviewed by a SIB NCO who was accepted for aircrew but failed officer selection .<br /><br />I understand that in WW2 an NCO pilot was in charge of aircraft even if supporting crew member was commissioned.<br /><br />I also understand that in RN and army the senior rank is in charge.<br /><br />Also there is little comparison between flying a single engined light helicopter and even the next steps up in complexity.Old Git Carlislenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-39717308131270901872020-08-02T16:18:54.483+01:002020-08-02T16:18:54.483+01:00"Charles, Andrew, Wills and Harry were closel..."Charles, Andrew, Wills and Harry were closely supervised." I'm not clear what you mean by that.<br />deariemenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-17574862516783448062020-08-02T14:28:48.567+01:002020-08-02T14:28:48.567+01:00I should imagine that Charles, Andrew, Wills and H...I should imagine that Charles, Andrew, Wills and Harry were closely supervised.<br /><br />Philip is a perfectly capable and witty man who would have gone much further outside of Royal marriage. Take of that what you will about the Royal genes. E-Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16657071992016670517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-33503775209798431842020-08-02T14:26:20.647+01:002020-08-02T14:26:20.647+01:00I would think that the reason behind officer prefe...I would think that the reason behind officer preference is that a fighter-bomber role carries with it far more risk of making a catastrophic diplomatic balls up. WW2 there wasn't any diplomacy to risk. E-Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16657071992016670517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-37220238251014171862020-08-02T08:50:20.971+01:002020-08-02T08:50:20.971+01:00Kev - helicopter requires more ability than conven...<b>Kev</b> - helicopter requires <b><i>more</i></b> ability than conventional flight: three controls in permanent play (rather like playing an organ) as opposed to only two (rather like a piano)<br /><br />Philip, Charles, Andrew, Wills and Harry may not be the sharpest knives in the emotional-intelligence drawer, but they sure as hell all score highly on motor-control intelligence <br /><br />only thing more difficult to fly is a Harrier (and that's seriously difficult, <i>crème de la crème</i>)Nick Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13670594203660051701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-56554871450550912052020-08-02T08:35:28.472+01:002020-08-02T08:35:28.472+01:00"h the Germans for his body (and, interesting..."h the Germans for his body (and, interestingly, the propeller, which forms a headstone!)"<br /><br />Standard of dead pilots in many Moscow graveyards. Rather fine!Elby the Beserkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15060519682739666145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-27613453191409806752020-08-02T07:47:24.516+01:002020-08-02T07:47:24.516+01:00Most interesting - there on merit alone?Most interesting - there on merit alone?James Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525082702330365464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32841798.post-84132722293670805162020-08-02T00:41:43.560+01:002020-08-02T00:41:43.560+01:00And I should imagine a helicopter requires at leas...And I should imagine a helicopter requires at least as much aptitude to fly. E-Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16657071992016670517noreply@blogger.com