Were these gentlemen due to fly next day?
If they were, I know of Air Forces where if they were on active service they'd have been shot. After due process of course.
Were they on standby to fly next day?
If they were, ditto the above.
Were they due to attend work at all next day?
As I understand it, they were on active service. That's 'work', right?
Were they on stand-down/rest next day?
Ah, the Western concept of taking a break during active service. "Sorry, all this stuff for real on my MFD's has got too much for me, it's stressing me out and I'm having trouble sleeping. I need a few days on a beach somewhere. Or maybe some counselling." How quaint.
These are not facetious questions.
No, they're not facetious questions. They're very valid.
These guys were killing people - hopefully the right people - and destroying stuff - hopefully the stuff it was intended they destroy. Which is why it's almost unbelievable they reached the positions they did in the RAF. Presumably they had 'mates' who covered for them in the past. See where that attitude got them?