Originally Posted by
Old-Duffer
All other officers I use their rank if addressing them formally and on first introduction to someone else. WOs and non commissioned personnel, I call 'Mr' and introduce them as such. In my experience the rank/status thing quickly becomes irrelevent
Ah, now we are on firmer ground. If they are serving then a plt off and fg off should be 'Mr' as also a WO. A sgt, etc, OTOH, should be introduced by rank.
Using flight lieutenant etc is, I would agree, a bit of a mouthful. Recall a radio play a while back, possibly set in Hampshire, where the local dig who was opening the village fete was referred to continually as 'the air marshal'; name dropping par excellance.
Now I know two Nigels and an Andy I would hesitate to call them air marshal, OTOH I also know a couple of ACM and would only greeting them as Sir and not Paddy or Bill
. I might introduce them by rank however.