The report, as per the link, is strictly accurate - as far as it goes.
It does not mention that PAL was not an airborne system either. The code was loaded by the crew, sitting in the cockpit, when it was issued. I don't recall the Nimrod having PAL.
The WE177 crew would be unable to launch without a release because the gates would remain shut!
Interesting it did not mention the Jaguar pilots who had sole authority, once the gates were open.