Surely the whole argument that lay behind the formation of 24/30 (Engineering) Squadron and 47/70 (Engineering) Squadron from what was A and B Line Servicing Squadrons at Rompers Green was to bring aircrew and groundcrew closer together to improve morale and espirit de corps?
Is this total 180 degree turn yet another condemnation of the RAF/MoD postings policy? OC Eng desperate to be seen to succeed, sweep out the old, in with the new, all to be noticed in their one chance of making Gp Capt? Success then means the next poor sod has to do something equally radical and so the circle goes round and round.
I saw this in the early days of the FGR2 in what was then Air Support Command, Coningsby was initially going to be centralised servicing with no squadron identities on aircraft or for groundcrew, as per the majority of the AT fleet at the time and as the V-force then was.
Something changed the minds of the powers that be at Upavon, though it took a little longer to persuade them of the need for formation flying practice at Squadron level!
Someone also sat up and took notice on the Vulcan squadrons as they all changed back to squadron groundcrew and dedicated aircraft, why does this always seem to happen??