SASless,
but I am still a mite confused....I looked at a graphic of the rank insignia for both officers and other ranks...and saw insignia for Technicians...NCO's both junior and senior...and then also Other Ranks, Aircrew that had yet more symbols on the rank insignia. Does that mean that Aircrew are a different rank and thus more senior than equal ranking NCO's? Do Technicians hold rank as do NCO's?
The fancy stuff on the ranks for aircrew are just added stuff beyond the aircrew's brevet. Must maintain the Aircrew uber alles after all.
Basically they're just the same as blunties but with flying pay.
Now the Officer things when seen on a poster are quite simple....and seem to be a knockoff of the the Navy rank insignia concept. But...I get puzzled when I see Group Captains, Squadron Commanders, and Commode Doors.....are there fleets in the RAF?
Not really. Just a large RN influence. IIRC the US Air Force grew predominantly out of its army. Here, the union of the RNAS and the RFC meant a greater mixing of the two's traditions and their paraphanalia.
Can a Squadron Leader be given command of a Wing if he is exceptional without being promoted to Wing Commander?
It's not in the realms of imposibility but an exceptional Sqn Ldr would more likely make Wing Co. before a command post opened up on a Sqn. Though the two often go hand in hand.
How many Group Captains can you have when there are just a few Groups in existence?
Staff Posts. AVM promos too.
Can a Group Commander command a Wing...or Wing Commander command a Squadron?
Umm, that's usually the way it is these days.