Originally Posted by
nazca_steve
Very interesting! I didn't think I'd get any replies, so thanks a lot for sharing that. Bear with me, but what was an SDO and a DCF?
I can help you with those:
SDO Station Duty Officer. First point of contact for out of hours occurrences. However, if there were operations staff on duty, some of the responsibilities would be retained by them. The SDO would be a Flight Lieutenant of any branch and therefore would not normally deal with flying matters. He would be responsible for ensuring that the appropriate specialist personnel were notified in event of an incident and would hold the fort until they arrived. He would be assisted by the Orderly Officer; Flying Officer or Pilot Officer; who carried out the routine station functions such as being present when the ensign was raised and lowered, inspecting (OO) defaulters and supervising the guardroom staff. Both duties usually covered a 24 hour period.
DCF Duty Commander Flying. Responsible for the supervision of all flying related activities on the unit. An aircrew branch Squadron Leader or above, normally a Squadron flight commander. Would take charge in event of any incident. He would be assisted by the Duty Pilot (DP) when unit flying was in progress. If the DCF was not a pilot, then the DP would be an aircraft captain. In event of an incident the DP would inform the DCF, have the manuals and order books open at the relevant sections and then stand back to avoid being trampled by the ensuing stampede of executives.
The above roughly describes the situation during the period referred to by Barksdale Boy. In later years, roles were merged, names of positions changed, functions and responsibilities moved around. The OO/SDO tasks were undertaken by one officer, on some units DP was called DCF and a Duty Station Executive Officer if any branch appointed. This could vary from unit to unit dependant in role, commitments and availability of personnel. It could become quite confusing.
I hope that this helps and doesn’t serve to further confuse!
YS