Air Marshal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the air force rank. Air marshal (or sky marshal) is also the term given to American federal security agents who travel undercover aboard commercial airliners.
- For information on air force officers in the rank of Marshal, see Marshal of the Air Force.
Air Marshal (Air Mshl or AM) is a rank in the Royal Air Force. It exists in a number of air forces, ranking above Air Vice-Marshal and immediately below Air Chief Marshal. Officers in the ranks of Air Chief Marshal and Air Vice-Marshal are sometimes considered generically to be air marshals.
Air Marshal is a 3 star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-8, equivalent to a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy or a Lieutenant-General in the British Army or the Royal Marines.
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[edit] Origins
Prior to the adoption of RAF-specific rank titles in 1919, it was suggested that the RAF might use the Royal Navy's officer ranks, with the word "Air" inserted before the naval rank title. For example, the rank that later became Air Marshal would have been Air Vice-Admiral. The Admiralty objected to any use of their rank titles, including this modified form, and so an alternative proposal was put forward: Air Officer ranks would be based on the term "Ardian", which was derived from a combination of the Gaelic words for "chief" (ard) and "bird" (eun), with the term "Wing Ardian" being used specifically for the rank equivalent to a Vice-Admiral and Lieutenant-General. However, Air Marshal was preferred and was adopted on 1 August 1919. The rank of Air Marshal has been used continuously since 11 August 1919.
[edit] Insignia, command flag and star plate
The rank insignia consists of two narrow light blue bands (each on a slightly wider black band) over a light blue band on a broad black band. This is worn on the both the lower sleeves of the tunic or on the shoulders of the flying suit or the casual uniform.
The command flag for an Air Marshal is defined by the single broad red band running in the centre of the flag.
The vehicle star plate for an Air Marshal depicts three white stars (Air Marshal is a three star rank) on an air force blue background.
 An RAF air marshal's command flag |
 An RAF air marshal's star plate |
[edit] Other air forces
The rank of Air Marshal is also used in a number of the air forces in the Commonwealth, including the Indian Air Force (IAF), Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). It is also used in the Egyptian Air Force, Nigerian Air Force, Ghana Air Force, Hellenic Air Force, Air Force of Zimbabwe and the Royal Thai Air Force.
In Australia, there are only two appointments available for Air Marshals: the Chief of Air Force and the Vice Chief of Defence Force. The latter is only available when that position is filled by an Air Force officer.
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) used the rank until the 1968 unification of the Canadian Forces, when Army-type rank titles were adopted and an Air Marshal became a Lieutenant-General.
[edit] See also
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Officer ranks of the  British Armed Forces |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Officer | OF(D) | OF-1 | OF-2 | OF-3 | OF-4 | OF-5 | OF-6 | OF-7 | OF-8 | OF-9 | OF-10 | ||
| Royal Navy: | Mid | SLt | Lt | Lt Cdr | Cdr | Capt | Cdre | RAdm | VAdm | Adm | Adm of the Fleet | ||
| Royal Marines: | 2Lt | Lt | Capt | Maj | Lt Col | Col | Brig | Maj Gen | Lt Gen | Gen | |||
| Army: | OCdt | 2Lt | Lt | Capt | Maj | Lt Col | Col | Brig | Maj Gen | Lt Gen | Gen | FM | |
| Royal Air Force: | OC / SO | APO / Plt Off | Fg Off | Flt Lt | Sqn Ldr | Wg Cdr | Gp Capt | Air Cdre | AVM | Air Mshl | Air Chf Mshl | MRAF | |
