Hmmm...
On the one hand, in 1940 men were given a few weeks of drill, thrown a uniform to wear and hey presto...they were 'in the RAF'. A few flying hours later and they were on the frontline in an unfamiliar type. NOBODY would dare question their credentials to wear wings and be 'in the RAF'.
However, these guys at Brize have essentially bought their wings by paying for their licences, paying for a type rating and gaining employment with a commercial company. It has been legitimised by giving them them the same level of military training given to a desperately needed acting Pilot Officer in 1940.
Do we by extension claim that the civilians who held a CPL/IR at JEFTS were RAF pilots because
If it looks like an RAF pilot, flies like an RAF pilot, and flies an RAF 'plane with other RAF pilots
they were therefore RAF pilots?
It's a slippery slope!