Interesting reading about the CAS needing a back ground in flying pointy grey beasties. This is relatively new, before Sir Keith Williamson no CAS had operational experience of fast jets, Sir Michael Beetham had flown and commanded a Squadron of Valiants, but his early operational career was on Lancasters and, I think, Lincolns. I know that these gents were a bit long in the tooth to get some Hunter or Lightning time in, but that's the point, its operational combat flying experience which is at the heart of the RAF's professional leader's background. Beetham could have flown Lightnings, perhaps, but he was a Bomber pilot at a time when the profile of the types according to role was far more divergent. As well as Andy Pulford, one more past CAS had experience of Helicopters. Peter Harding, but that was in addition to his time on Canberras and I think Strike role Phantoms as well.
FB