Post WW2 RAF NCO Aircrew Ranking System.
A few of you old timers visiting this thread must remember that CRAZY NCO ranking system which the RAAF, to its discredit, picked up also.
When did the RAF system commence and how long did it persist?
The RAAF introduced it in 1948 and the first post war aircrew trainees wore Laurel Wreath patches to show they were Trainees.
At Wings the pilots became Pilot 4s by inserting a star into the laurel wreath.
Then it was Pilot 3, 2, 1 with successive stars and Master Pilot with a WO's crown instead of stars.
Hear tell that the RAF stars were in the reverse order - P4 = 4 stars, P3 = 3 stars, P2 = 2 stars and P1 = 1 star.
Can anyone confirm that an RAF P1 had 4 stars?
Perhaps the stars should have been rubber stamped on the back of one's hands !