Danny:-
and they couldn't get their heads round the idea of a Sergeant- Pilot at all.
Neither it seems can we these days, Danny. As you say, a strange world, given that NCO pilots prevailed in WWII, with officer aircrew often serving under them as aircraft captain. I know this is a buoy that this forum has gone around many times, but it I still don't understand the RAF's insistence on commissioned pilots (but OK with non-commissioned/WO aircrew). I'm told that it is to ensure a sufficient source of pilot SO/VSO's in the command chain, which in turn raises the question of why should they be pilots in the main?