Are Master Aircrew Warrant Officers?
 

Forgive my ignorance, but can someone tell me whether the Master Aircrew rank in the RAF is a WO rank?

Damm right we are!!!. Sorry forgot - Damm right I was!!!!!!!!:cool:

Is it the same today? In my day, my CO used to make a point of always having a WO Flt Eng or Loadie on his crew if the trip involved flying into an American base.

Whenever he had any task to complete on the American base, he'd always take his WO Flt Eng along with him - and usually 'meekly' follow one pace behind him.

All the Americans would see was that eagle on the sleeve (that's where they wore their rank back then) and take the WO to be a bird colonel.

All doors would magically open and the service offered could not be faulted.

Was the same on German bases, the Laurel wreath was very similar to a Luftwaffe senior officer with a couple of pips.

I'm not surprised the Sergeant was confused - Master Aircrew sounds more like a Master Sergeant than a Warrant Officer.

Yes they receive the Queens Warrant but are listed behind real Warrant Officers in the Air Force List.

Does that mean they are junior to WOs in the same way a Sergeant Major is junior to a Command Sergeant Major in the US Army, even though both are E9s?

Crosseyes,
Err no,
The royal coat of arms they wear, means that they are at the very top of the enlisted tree. Call them Mr, Ma'am,WO,Sir, MACR ( correct method ) or E9 ( works great on the spams) it matters not, they are still top dog. As for the huuuge badge of rank on the No1's - well you just have to make sure that they know who you are....
As for the men / women themselves, I have worked with / for some great people and some utter tw@ts. But they are the real deal and as for their position in the RAFL, who gives a to§§ !
Enjoy !
And so to bed wondering how long before the "they are not real WOs + plastic sergeants" debate kicks off...

Master Aircrew, Warrant Officer and WO1 are all of equal rank/seniority.
Warrant Officer is listed above Master Aircrew on the Air Force List as it is the most common senior non commissioned rank across the service.

I sense Deja Vu here.....http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=232962


Yes they are Warrant Officers.


NO we do NOT salute them.


Right Plastic Chief_Two, what is your real question.:ugh:

The post history suggests a preoccupation with WOs??

And the Master Aircrew rank is WO.

You know these septics, it takes a while for things to sink in.

Not strictly true. The RAF often claim that their WO are equal to WO1 and senior to WO2 but Queens Regs makes no comparison between WO1/WO2 in the Army and WO in the RAF. In other words a RAF WO is neither senior nor junior to WO1 or WO2 apart from the fact that the Army would be viewed as the senior service of the two.

Airbus, I fear that the pre-occupation is with being saluted.

It's worth recalling that he started up over on Arrse as a fresh [US] WO1, demanding to know why it was that British soldiers wouldn't respect his commission and salute him (and other US Warrant Officers) , in effect inisiting that they should. As you might expect, this approach made a major contribution to Anglo-American relations. He changed his log in upon promotion to CW2 and occasional offerings on the subject of Warrant Officers ensure that much the same sort of fun ensues...

Hi crosseyed

"Yes they receive the Queens Warrant but are listed behind real Warrant Officers in the Air Force List."

We may well be behind what you sarcastically refer to as "real" Warrant Officers in the Air Force List but as regards pay scales we are light years ahead...............Air Force List or pay chit I know what's more important to me :p

CB,

"But light years behind the Army Warrant Officers pay chits!!!!"

If you are referring to British Army WO's you really need to do a bit of research chap cos you are 10k out :rolleyes:

he doesn't get flying pay, he is PAS.

CB,

I wpuld pm you with my postal address but as i dont get flying pay it would be a bit cheeky howevr use the use the link below for your research, then order your portion of humble pie :p

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Ab...ToTransfer.htm

MACR used to get promoted on time, hence the derisory comments. Some years ago this stopped, and there are still a few left in who got promoted on time, but not many.

During the transition, those on the old scheme got paid (as though they were promoted) but did/do not wear the rank. There are still a few of these about as well.

Now, all new MACR are promoted and paid on merit. Their rank is the absolutley the highest available in the non-commissioned ranks (the MACR rather than WO is a trade difference and not competence) .........and earned.

So the answer is YES, they are the same as ANY WO.



P.S. I am not NCA nor commissioned NCA. I just acknowledge professionalism when I see it.

CM,

See you PM and raise you :ok: