It is perhaps understandable, in view of the loss of lives, that he chose to step beyond the confines of the 'rules'.
Courtney,
Your utter lack of logic astounds me. You are the only contributer to this thread thus far to agree with its thrust, whilst upholding the AM's similar disregard for logic.
Either they are guilty of gross negligence with no doubt whatsoever, or the slur on their names is wrong.
Nothing allows the reviewing officers to 'step beyond the confines of the rules'.
Your assertion that somehow the 'loss of life' allows some leeway with the rules is astounding. Are you suggesting that a different set of rules be applied, had only the crew perished?
Those rules existed solely to protect those deceased aircrew, with no way to defend themselves, from the machinations of people like Day and Wratten, not to allow such men to play fast and loose with them to 'tidy up' a difficult and embarrassing accident.
Bizzare