Originally Posted by
Tankertrashnav
As you say the system was unpopular and it was abandoned in 1950. The only survival of the system was the rank of master pilot (or navigator etc) which was the new name for warrant officer aircrew, which still survives among certain aircrew categories. Prior to 1946 they were simply known as Warrant Officer.
I once had a GSM for Palestine 1945 - 48 named to an S2 RAF, which puzzled me until I realised that the chap had been a signaller 2 which I think was equivalent to sergeant.
Then in 1951 the Ground Crew rank/trade system was changed to introduce the technical ranks Junior/Cpl/Senior/Chief and Master Tech.
To be all changed again in 1964. Cpl/Techs, Senior Techs amd Master Techs became Cpl's, Sgt's and W.O.s and Chief Techs were suddenly below Flight Sgt's, a rank that some Chief Techs had been 'promoted' from.
Since then the SAC/Junior Tech position has changed and the Rock's now have Lance Cpl's.
Will it ever be stable? Or is the RAF really in need of constant change?