A naval lieutenant commander could hold only the RAF rank of flying officer, while a naval lieutenant held the higher air rank of flight lieutenant. The junior naval officer could then command his naval senior in the flying organization. In the example given, the two officers worked together successfully. The arrangement still exposed a structural command problem created by maintaining separate naval and air-service ranks.
Notable Point · 50:14-51:13
Dual ranks could reverse the chain of command
Separate naval and flying ranks could place a lieutenant in command of a lieutenant commander within the aviation organization.