Cazatou:
The AOC and AOC in C would not have been involved in allocating aircraft to NI In-Theatre tasks.
But they were certainly involved in the decision to retain the type in Squadron service despite repeated advice that it was unairworthy, culminating that very day in the formal advice to that effect by Boscombe Down and their urgent plea that it be grounded immediately. The words kitchen and heat come to mind, not to mention bucks and stopping!