ValMORNA and Teeteringhead,
As I recall, the position on the (recently introduced) flying pay in the early fifties was that it was payable as long as you remained appointable for flying duties. On a ground tour, it was your own responsibility to find a flying unit which would give you some flying time to keep your hand in.
Some people were fortunate (I had a ground tour on an Auxiliary station; the Squadron (608) flew Vampires on which I was experienced). Others were not, the accident rate for returners bumped up, they changed the policy: now you had a fortnight's refresher course every year and a month at the end before returning to flying duties.
Danny42C.