81Confession of desertion by warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or airman
(1)Where in accordance with Queen's Regulations a warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or airman signs a written confession that he has been guilty of desertion, his commanding officer may, notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act, submit the confession for the consideration of the Air Council or such officer not below the rank of group captain as may be provided toy Queen's Regulations.
(2)After considering any such confession the Air Council or such officer as aforesaid may direct that the offence shall not be tried by court-martial or dealt with summarily by the appropriate superior authority or commanding officer, and if such a direction is given the period of his service as respects which he confesses to have been a deserter shall be forfeited.
(3)A direction under the last foregoing subsection may further provide that the whole or any part of the offender's service previous to that as respects which he confesses as aforesaid shall also be forfeited.
(4)Subsections (2) to (5) of section seventeen of this Act shall apply in relation to the forfeiture of service by virtue of this section subject to the following modifications:—
(a)for references to an award of forfeiture of service by the court-martial there shall be substituted references to the direction;
(b)for references to the date on which the offender was convicted there shall be substituted references to the date on which the direction was given.