Isn't it true to say that the men mentioned in previous posts were, no matter their rank, "official" aircrew?
What about those who had no business being on operational flights but were smuggled aboard? Whilst I can't, at present, find the sources, I've read of non aircrew, even WAAFs being taken on ops.
Yes but the OP's example was also 'official' in that the RAF knew he was flying as part of a crew - which is why I posted those particular Airmen !
One of the 'airmen' DFM holders later had some trouble because it was unheard of for groundcrew to have an operational flying medal - but I cannot remember which one !