Willy's Private Air Force
It must have been coincidence also that a new search and rescue base was built and the proposal to privatise the SAR was dropped?
The establishment is still pulling the strings, especially in the military!
When I was at Wallop in the late 50's an officer who made it to flying training needed to be a real plonker not to graduate, on the other hand an NCO didn't usually get a second chance. The result was of course that the NCO pilot's were, as a bunch, much more competent.
Plus ca change.............