OK, to put some more fact into the debate I have just looked at the 2010 RAF List and there are 1,273 Wg Cdrs
However, just 388 are aircrew, with 191 pilots and 197 WSO (Navs, AEOs and LMs). So there are 885 "other branch" Wg Cdrs.
I then considered that there were the following (thanks for corrections):
46x Wg Cdr Squadrons:
1 Sqn
II (AC) Sqn
3 Sqn
4 Sqn
5 (AC) Sqn
8 Sqn
9 Sqn
11 Sqn
12 Sqn
13 Sqn
14 Sqn
15(R) Sqn
18 Sqn
22 Sqn
24 Sqn
27 Sqn
28 Sqn
29(R) Sqn
30 Sqn
31 Sqn
32 (The Royal) Sqn
33 Sqn
39 Sqn
41(R) Sqn
42(R) Sqn
45(R) Sqn
47 Sqn
51 Sqn
54(R) Sqn
55(R) Sqn
56(R) Sqn
72(R) Sqn
78 Sqn
92(R) Sqn
99 Sqn
100 Sqn
101 Sqn
111 Sqn
120 Sqn
201 Sqn
202 Sqn
208(R) Sqn
216 Sqn
230 Sqn
617 Sqn
RAFAT
20x Aircrew Wg Cdr OC Ops or Stn Cdrs:
RAF Wittering
RAF St. Mawgan
RAF Spadeadam
RAF Odiham
RAF Cranwell
RAF Coningsby
RAF Waddington
RAF Northolt
RAF Marham
RAF Benson
RAF Brize Norton
RAF Cottesmore
RAF Shawbury
RAF Lyneham
RAF Leeming
RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RAF Kinloss
RAF Leuchars
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Valley
I then considered CFIs and there are at least another 4, making a total of 70x aircrew Wg Cdr posts. Add the PJOBs of Akrotiri, Gibraltar and MPA plus the EAWs that makes another 10 then that makes 80. Considering there is a Wg Cdr in a ground tour waiting for a Command Tour and an equal number in ground tours after a Command Tour, then that totals 240 required.
That makes an excess of 138 Wg Cdrs left - but there are Aircrew required Wg Cdr posts in HQs such as JHC, Air Command (1,2 and 22Gp), PJHQ, MOD, ETPS and CFS. Plus NATO, Air Attache, exchange posts and OOA postings.
So is 388 too many? - probably not. Unless you fancy a non-aircrew type stumbling about in an aircrew specialised post, which is exactly why the Wg Cdr branch no longer has "GD Any" monicker attached to it.
One thing I do know, is that there are an awful lot of Controllers,Coppers and Rock Ape Wg Cdrs (ie. OSB) in posts outside of specialisation
The B Word