After I manage to convince him that his men had never been given a course of dual instruction on engine starting and had been learning on the job, he realized it was his own lack of supervision of his ground staff that had led to the current situation. The next day, all charges against the two airmen were dropped. It was a happy ending, more so when a six pack of beer from the airmen was left at my locker in the crew room.
I love a story with a happy ending. As you flew 440s, did you read by story here about
'Hanger flying in a bar can save your life'? It involved a Convair 300 that I flew part time as a co-pilot.