Quote:
Originally Posted by grumpy
The practice of commissioning civilians into ranks substantially higher than Pilot Officer or Flying Officer was not, as I am sure you know, unusual.
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I'm entirely-familiar with the approach, for various specialist professions (as a former reservist with residual commissioned status myself).
We both then fully-understand that the reason people such as yourself as a Met Office civilian were commissioned into the RAFVR was to allow the two-way application of military law/discipline/authority in connection with a Transition To War process.
But the key point is that when someone in a civilian capacity with a 'dormant commission' (as you're describing it) was mobilised, effectively they ceased to be a civilian.
I previously had believed that the circular silver eagle-and-crown Special Duties capbadges were intended solely for people who
remained civilians, despite being in RAF uniform. As we're all aware of, the biggest contingent that fitted this description was the ROC (I was an Observer for many years before joining the RAuxAF).
As I've stated, I am now seriously-wondering whether or not the main wearer category for these silver capbadges could have been the Special Duties branch of the RAFVR. But if this was the case, these individuals in uniform were
not civilians.
It would be fascinating to get confirmation of this, either photographic evidence, or a properly-contemporary edition of AP1358 (which, incidentally, was originally the dress regulations reference
only for all Air Force Officers, and not for WOs/ORs). I shall continue to dig.