Sir Peter, I enjoyed your war story but not aware of the incident. I will add my own that is slightly relevant to this thread:
A young dragartist under instruction. Canberra Servicing Flt, Wyton, early 80s. Asked to assist in an post maintenance AF/BF. I had completed a number of practical tasks and been briefed on seat pins. The aircraft was a B2 with the banner towing hook at the back of the bomb bay. Cpl Scoggins agreed to read and I would carry out the check. A spring loaded pin on the undercarriage door. "check operation". I looked over the door and could not relate to the words. Nor Could Cpl Scoggins. It took a while to work it out. A very simple check pushing the pin against the spring with the palm of ones hand. it appeared that Cpl Scoggins had been signing for having completed these checks for years without knowing what he was signing for!
One of those I learned about maintaining aircraft from that moments.
An older dragartist on det at a top secret airbase in Cornwall. Goes into the HAS to be greeted by S/Sgt (lets call him Pike) Pike had been done for signing for things he had not completed. I thought he had been sent to Colchester for correctional training. "dragartist, this kit you are responsible for has bits missing" Replies "Well Pike how TF am I supposed to know. you mean you dragged me 350 miles to tell me. Why can't you just fill in a F765 to get the books amended or a F760 if the kit is faulty? Pike replies- "wots one of them?" A few months later Pike gets promoted to WO2. I think he even went on to STANEVAL. His correctional training must have worked!