Danny
Thanks for your interesting feedback.
Why 84 continued operating during the monsoon while the other VV squadrons were withdrawn can only have been because they were still doing useful work, despite conditions having deteriorated. The other factor was that all VV squadrons were due to re-equip with Mosquitoes. No point in having squadrons in theatre if they can't locate and attack the target... better to withdraw them and give them superior aircraft that can readily operate beneath low cloud. That's my guess. (In the event, the Mosquito proved to be a disaster in tropical conditions, being made of wood and epoxy resin.)
Re. delaying an op if enemy aircraft were spotted in the target area, which you say you had never heard of... I think the book Vengeance quotes someone who was on an op when Jap fighters turned up. Fortunately they had fighter cover accompanying them and were able to scoot away at deck level, while the escort took on the Japs. It just underlines how vulnerable the VV was without an escort, so no doubt it made perfect sense to be cautious. I think 84 lost only one aircraft during their 5 months in theatre, and that was probably due to AA fire. So, the policy of being cautious when enemy aircraft were around, evidently paid-off.
Re. Arthur not getting the DSO... After the war, my father had lunch with his old boss at 221 Group, under whom he served in Burma. By then Vincent was AVM. He told my father that Gen Slim had put him up for a DSO, partly for his performance when briefing his commanders on the use of the VV in close air support, and for his training of Wingate's Chindits when they were preparing for battle, in Gwalior, and of course for his contribution in the air during the retaking of Burma (for which Slim and his units were profoundly grateful... as the VV squadrons were a decisive factor in the success of the early campaign). Vincent put the recommendation through normal RAF channels, rather than via the Army, along with a good many other recommendations for decorations. These ended up on the desk of Sir Keith Park, who refused most of them. This was in stark contrast to decorations going via Army channels to soldiers. In fact Arthur asked for all of his flight commanders to be decorated, but of the aircrew, only New Zealander Jimmy Hawke, his masterly navigator, was rewarded. People were totally non-plused over Park's miserliness. So many people had excelled. So my father received the DFC and was denied the DSO. It has to be said that one factor may have been his rank... he was an acting Sqn Ldr, substantive Flt Lt. He might have needed to be a substantive Sqn Ldr to be awarded a DSO (unless he'd shown extraordinary valour). Possibly Park was also used to giving decorations to airmen who had served in the European theatre, where, of course, the odds against survival were much higher. So perhaps he felt the chaps flying over Burma had had it relatively easy.