Ancient Aviator,
In your post 3182 regarding the finding of negligence you stated: "Pulford applied the guidelines (without legal advice) and came to a different conclusion".
The Station Commander RAF Odiham found that Flt Lt Tapper had a Duty of Care in respect of his Passengers and that he had failed in that Duty. In deference to the Moderator I will use the definition from Chambers Dictionary:- "Negligence :- omission of duty especially such care for the interests of others as the law may require".
The AOC and AOC in C agreed with that view in regard of Flt Lt Tapper and extended that finding to Flt Lt Cook.
I must add that I find your assertion that the then Wg Cdr Pulford and his team did not take legal advice quite astonishing and I can only assume that he confided that to you in a private conversation. You are, I presume, senior to Air Commodore Pulford as no Junior Officer would refer to an Air Rank Officer purely by his surname - would they?