Are Master Aircrew Warrant Officers?
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Sneaky fecker, they do say WO's are full of cunning and guile and you seem to have been blessed with both but honours even on the dink front, for the time being 
Fly safe chap
Fly safe chap
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The best solution would be to rename Master Aircrew, Warrant Officer Aircrew.
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From the comments on this thread, it appears that MACR are not regarded as true WOs in some quarters, possibly due in part to their title. My suggestion of renaming MACR as WOACR would at least solve that problem and insure they are regarded as equals to other RAF WOs.
And in the US Army, the correct ranks are WO1 (warranted) and CW2 (commissioned).
And in the US Army, the correct ranks are WO1 (warranted) and CW2 (commissioned).
We who were/are in the RAF are in no confusion about the status of MACR and WO's.
The fact that you seem to be confused doesn't bother me in the slightest.
I do wonder though why you think the rest of the world should fall into line with a fairly recently introduced US Army rank structure.
The fact that you seem to be confused doesn't bother me in the slightest.
I do wonder though why you think the rest of the world should fall into line with a fairly recently introduced US Army rank structure.
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The US Warrant Officer ranks are based on the old Royal Navy WO rank which goes back to the 18th century and continued until 1949. So they actually predate the WO ranks in the British Army and RAF.
So when was the MACR rank introduced?
And is there a link to the RAF Air Force List on the web?
So when was the MACR rank introduced?
And is there a link to the RAF Air Force List on the web?
Chief Two
Those of us in the RAF (or perhaps UK Armed Forces) have no problems understanding what the status of a Master is. Perhaps if the US military spent a bit more time on (rank) recognition instead of believing that they are the only ones they need to worry about then this would be much easier. Note British 4 star officers who have taken to wearing US rank because the the US military do not do us the common courtesy of learning to recognise the rank structure of their closest allies.
NATO even produce a very useful wall chart depicting all the equivalent ranks I commend it to you. And if can't be bothered finding that try here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranks_and_insignia_of_NATO
And the RAF list is not available on the web but you can buy it from Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
THS
You forgot Corporal of Horse which IIRC is a Sergeant and Staff Corporal which is, I believe, a Staff Sergeant.
From the comments on this thread, it appears that MACR are not regarded as true WOs in some quarters, possibly due in part to their title. My suggestion of renaming MACR as WOACR would at least solve that problem and insure they are regarded as equals to other RAF WOs.
NATO even produce a very useful wall chart depicting all the equivalent ranks I commend it to you. And if can't be bothered finding that try here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranks_and_insignia_of_NATO
And the RAF list is not available on the web but you can buy it from Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
THS
If our colonial cousin is confused by RAF ranks (bless) imagine how confused he'd be around the Household Cavarly. Farrier Corporal Major and Regimental Corporal Major anyone?
I think that the term Master Aircrew was around at the same time as Master Technician, (WO), Chief Technician (Flt Sgt), Senior Technician (Sgt), Corporal Tech and JT (the stripes were upside down and even the JT had one) these technician ranks, which, with the exception of chief Tech and JT, disappeared with the introduction of the new trade structure in 1964. I knew a Chief Tech who had taken his spec qual as a Flight Sgt and was made a Chief Tech and after 1964 finished up at a lower rank than he had started! I am sure there are guys out there older than I who will give you a more definitive answer.
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Are Master Aircrew WOs?
Haltonapp is right. The rank was introduced at the same time as P1, P2, P3, J/T, Chief Tech and so on. It was all highly unpopular, and today the Master Aircrew rank is the only remnant.
Gentleman Aviator
Historian nerd mode ON there are several strands to be brought together here:
Warrant Officers When the RAF was first formed it had many more non-commisioned ranks than now. In decscending order they were: Warrant Officer Class I, Sergeant-Major 1st Class, Warrant Officer Class II, Sergeant-Major 2nd Class, Flight Sergeant, Sergeant, Corporal, Aircraftman (in three classes - Leading, 1st Class and 2nd Class). In April 1933 the Sergeant-Major ranks were abolished, and sometime in WWII the WO 2 was declared obsolescent.
Master Aircrew The "Master" name and insignia are the only remnant of a failed post-war experiment with NCA ranks. It was intended to separate NCA into their own messes (!!) and with their own rank structure. The basic badge (bear with the description, I shall try and find pictures) was similar to the Masters' badge, but with no coat-of-arms, and the "budgie" at the top of the badge. There were five grades: Master Aircrew (= WO), Aircrew I (= FS), Aircrew II (= Sgt), Aircrew III (= Cpl) Aircrew IV (= airman) and Aircrew Cadet (= u/t). The Aircrew Cadet had an "empty" laurel wreath, and Aircrew IV, III and II had one, two and three six-pointed stars respectively within the laurel wreath. The Aircrew I added a crown above the bird. It was introduced in July 1946 and lasted only until August 1950.
Technician Ranks The first "New Trade Structure" was brought in after WWII and added Chief Technician, Senior Technician, Cpl Technician and Jnr Technician, using the "upside-down" chevrons to which haltonapp correctly refers, with the JT being an upside-down Lance Corporal. SAC rank was introduced at the same time. The rank badges and the Senior Tech and Cpl Tech ranks did indeed disappear in 1964.
Historian nerd mode OFF
Warrant Officers When the RAF was first formed it had many more non-commisioned ranks than now. In decscending order they were: Warrant Officer Class I, Sergeant-Major 1st Class, Warrant Officer Class II, Sergeant-Major 2nd Class, Flight Sergeant, Sergeant, Corporal, Aircraftman (in three classes - Leading, 1st Class and 2nd Class). In April 1933 the Sergeant-Major ranks were abolished, and sometime in WWII the WO 2 was declared obsolescent.
Master Aircrew The "Master" name and insignia are the only remnant of a failed post-war experiment with NCA ranks. It was intended to separate NCA into their own messes (!!) and with their own rank structure. The basic badge (bear with the description, I shall try and find pictures) was similar to the Masters' badge, but with no coat-of-arms, and the "budgie" at the top of the badge. There were five grades: Master Aircrew (= WO), Aircrew I (= FS), Aircrew II (= Sgt), Aircrew III (= Cpl) Aircrew IV (= airman) and Aircrew Cadet (= u/t). The Aircrew Cadet had an "empty" laurel wreath, and Aircrew IV, III and II had one, two and three six-pointed stars respectively within the laurel wreath. The Aircrew I added a crown above the bird. It was introduced in July 1946 and lasted only until August 1950.
Technician Ranks The first "New Trade Structure" was brought in after WWII and added Chief Technician, Senior Technician, Cpl Technician and Jnr Technician, using the "upside-down" chevrons to which haltonapp correctly refers, with the JT being an upside-down Lance Corporal. SAC rank was introduced at the same time. The rank badges and the Senior Tech and Cpl Tech ranks did indeed disappear in 1964.
Historian nerd mode OFF
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Braddock was a MASTER Pilot. Now that was a rank to conjure with. Braddock used to get extra height out of his Lanc by dropping the flaps when at max altitude and 'jumping' up a few more feet.
'I flew with Braddock' was complusory reading on 201. Is the book still knocking about the crew room?
'I flew with Braddock' was complusory reading on 201. Is the book still knocking about the crew room?
Gentleman Aviator
Many thanks Archimedes - exactly the ones I meant.
There's also good stuff on that site on the technician badges....
There's also good stuff on that site on the technician badges....
