SOPs at that time varied between squadrons at pre-grunt Wattisahm. On the superior squadron, 56(F) we were always meticulous with our procedures....
Not so the 'Crows'. Taxying in one night, I once saw one of their jets get airborne with sheets of flame coming out of the back end. Not just a/b, but something more. The crew staggered round the pattern and made a single engine landing. The cause? The alert state had changed from RS-something to RS-something else and the crew hadn't bothered to go out and recheck the jet. So when the hooter went they rushed off with the intake blanks still in. One was partially ingested, the other lodged in the intake duct.....
Another time I stood 'Q' for them during a handover, went out to the jet and was appalled to find all the pins and blanks still in despite the mandatory Q RS state. So declined to accept the thing until it was properly cocked. Much grumbling from the Crows' JEngO, but they finally sorted it after the DFC threatened to ring Neat MC and take them off state......
Wanquerres!