formally NCO Aircrew does have its origins in WWII
Actually both the RFC and RNAS used NCO aircrew in WW1. Initially in 2 seat aircraft the pilot (or driver) was often an NCO and the Observer, ie the chap who had the hard bit to do, was an officer. The top brass of the time thought that as you wouldn't get an officer to drive a car or lorry with an NCO in the back, why would you do it with an aeroplane? Things soon changed, of course, but it strikes me that the system had its merits
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By the way I have seen a WW2 group of medals with the Aircrew Europe Star named to an Able Seaman RN, a Fairey Swordfish Gunner as I recall.