HarbingerDawn, that trick with pressing the esc key right after pressing "4" to take control of a ship and keep the camera position works a treat. Thanks for that hint. (I do have to remember to right-click and follow the ship, or the camera will still rotate with the ship, but that's okay.) It does work to alternate between controlling the camera and controlling the ship, and that's all I asked for.
So on that note...