We passed through freezing cold Hendon on the way to RAF Nicosia in April 1961. I was a raw Assistant Experimental Officer weather forecaster civvy, with gorgeous wife [still gorgeous]. .
We were puzzled to be segregated, with an army 2nd Lt, everybody else ushered into another room. Nice little buffet for us.
I was then approached by an RAF Mover and told I had to take the diplomatic bag [or whatever it was called] as I was i/c passengers. Pressed for an explanation it emerged that I had been given Flt Lt "equivalent rank" .............. never heard of EMR before, and never liked it since. I pointed out that a civvy in a crumpled suit was in no position to give any necessary orders to motley pongoes, wives and brats, and turned down his kind offer.
He lumbered the 2nd Lt, which he should have done in any case.
We were still shell-shocked when we emerged from the Britannia [back-facing seats] many hours later on a scorching Nicosia spring morning..
Digression