I have some info that it was not required that a RCAF should salute an RAF Officer but could get busted if they didn’t. Any knowledge of such a thing?
As far as I know, not possible. The officers in Both services (in fact RAAF, RNZAF etc) hold a “Queen or Kings Commission” (depending on who is the monarch at that time) and you are required to salute an officer of a Senior Rank to your rank (all enlisted, and officers of a junior rank to a ranks above them). Also, in my 18 years in the Canadian Army, you were required to salute officer’s of other nations including US, etc etc. NOT knowing another countries military ranks was not an excuse (you are suppose to learn them) Having said that, if you do not salute (by accident or some other Not acceptable reason)…..you may get a “verbal reprimand” or “possible” the worst case “extra duties” (depending on your rank, maybe have to scrub a few toilets for a week, Officer’s “extra duties” usually meant being “Duty Officer” every day for a week)….but their being “busted” (I believe you mean “reduced in rank”) isn’t going to happen. Also, you need to salute all officers of any service (Army, Navy or Air Force) Your taught in the service about saluting, “IF in DOUBT, salute” worst thing that can happen is you have a Private in some Foreign army saying “Thank you very much Sgt, that was very nice of you” Can you share the info about where your statement came from?? Having said all of the above, of course their is a bunch of rules “when to salute” (indoors, outdoors, with weapons, with a hat off, when in civilian clothing (yes, if you recognize an officer when in civilians your still suppose to salute - by standing to attention in front of them or when going past then a smart “eyes right or left”)…AND other Countries had different rules about all of the above also
I have had a 2nd hand account from a relative of the said RCAF Sgt bomber pilot that he refused to salute a uk RAF officer and he was temporarily busted to Corporal. Perhaps he was having a bad day or he didn’t like him.
A “second hand” report??? IF, and I only say if, it was true……your original questions was: I have some info that it was not required that a RCAF should salute an RAF Officer but could get busted if they didn’t. So, your information doesn’t support the premise of “it was not required”……as you can clearly see in your information that it WAS REQUIRED, and he choose NOT TO…..which is “Conduct to the Prejudice of Good Order and Air Force discipline, Contrary to Section 40 of the Air Force Act” and a “chargeable offence”…..which if found guilty, means he can be disciplined So (if this was true) this clearly demonstrates that it IS REQUIRED to salute officer’s (no matter what country they are from) and by NOT doing so, is punishable. So you have any documentation that tells us “IT IS NOT REQUIRED FOR RCAF PERSONNEL TO SALUTE OFFICERS OF THE RAF” If you have his name, I can look thru the Court Martial Records at LAC and see if any record exists
The Act that states that a member of the Canada Forces are subject to the rules of the Home Forces (British) when they are attached to Home Forces (British) by their government. This Act is still in force today, albeit with amendments over the years. So basically this is saying, that a Member of the RCAF when attached to a RAF Unit is subject to the COMMAND of that unit, and is subject to all the RULES AND ORDERS of that unit AND vice versa So, as far as I know, their is NO written or unwritten document that allows a member of the RCAF to ignore rules or orders of the RAF Below is some of the clauses from the Act Visiting Forces (British Commonwealth) Act 1933 Attachment of personnel and mutual powers of command. (1)The forces, other than home forces, to which this section applies are the naval, military and air forces of His Majesty raised in the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand, . . . . . . F1, the Irish Free State . . . . . . F2 (2)[F3The Defence Council]— (i)may attach temporarily to a home force any member of another force to which this section applies who is placed at their disposal for the purpose by the service authorities of that part of the Commonwealth to which the other force belongs; F4(ii)[F4may, with his consent,] place any member of a home force at the disposal of the service authorities of another part of the Commonwealth for the purpose of being attached temporarily by those authorities to a force to which this section applies belonging to that part of the Commonwealth. [F5(3)While a member of another force is by virtue of this section attached temporarily to a home force— (a)he is subject to service law for the purposes of the Armed Forces Act 2006 at all times at which he would be so subject if he were a member of that force; and (b)he shall be treated as if he were a member of the home force of relative rank:] Provided that His Majesty may by Order in Council direct that in relation to members of a force of any part of the Commonwealth specified in the Order, [F6the Armed Forces Act 2006] shall apply with such exceptions and subject to such adaptations and modifications as may be so specified. (4)When a home force and another force to which this section applies are serving together, whether alone or not— (a)any member of the other force shall be treated and shall have over members of the home force the like powers of command as if he were a member of the home force of relative rank; and (b)if the forces are acting in combination, any officer of the other force appointed by His Majesty, or in accordance with regulations made by or by authority of His Majesty, to command the combined force, or any part therof, shall be treated and shall have over members of the home force the like powers of command and punishment F7. . . as if he were an officer of the home force of relative rank and holding the same command. (5)For the purposes of this section, forces shall be deemed to be serving together or acting in combination if and only if they are declared to be so serving or so acting by order of [F3the Defence Council], and the relative rank of members of the home forces and of other forces shall be such as may be prescribed by Regulations made by His Majesty.
