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Encyclopedia > Air Marshal

An air marshal's sleeve/shoulder insignia
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An air marshal's sleeve/shoulder insignia

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 also addressed generically as "Air Marshal". Image File history File links UK-Air-OF8. ... Image File history File links UK-Air-OF8. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... An Air Vice Marshals sleeve/shoulder insignia Air Vice Marshal is the third most senior rank active in the Royal Air Force today, after the inactivation of Marshal of the Royal Air Force as a substantive rank in peacetime during defence cuts of the 1990s. ... An Air Chief Marshals sleeve/shoulder insignia Air Chief Marshal is the most senior rank active in the Royal Air Force (RAF) today, after the inactivation of Marshal of the Royal Air Force as a substantive rank in peacetime during defence cuts of the 1990s. ...


It 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. NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation[1] (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for collective security established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, DC, on 4 April 1949. ... Vice Admiral is a naval rank of three star level, equivalent to Lieutenant General in seniority. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... His/Her Majestys Royal Marines, also known as the Royal Marines (RM), are the Royal Navys Light Infantry, the United Kingdoms amphibious force and specialists in Arctic and Mountain Warfare. ...

Contents

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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. An Air Officer is a U.K. Royal Air Force officer of rank Air Commodore or higher. ... The Goidelic languages (also sometimes called the Gaelic languages or collectively Gaelic) are one of two major divisions of modern-day Insular Celtic languages (the other being the Brythonic languages). ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... August 11 is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

An air marshal's command flag
Enlarge
An air marshal's command flag
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Image File history File links UK-Air-OF8-Flag. ... Image File history File links UK-Air-OF8-Flag. ...

Insignia and command flag

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.

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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. The Commonwealth of Nations (CN), usually known as the Commonwealth, is a voluntary association of 53 independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former colonies of the United Kingdom. ... The Indian Air Force (भारतीय वायु सेना : Bharatiya Vayu Sena) is the air-arm of the Armed Forces of India and has the prime responsibility of conducting air-based warfare and securing Indian airspace. ... Military manpower Military age 16 years of age Availability 39,028,014 (2005) Males ages 16-49 Reaching military age males: 1,969,055 (2005) Active troops 620,000 (Ranked 7th) Military expenditures Dollar figure $3. ... The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) is the air force arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. ... Egyptian Air Force flag. ... The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is the air force of Nigeria. ... The Ghana Air Force (GAF) is the air force of the African nation of Ghana. ... The Hellenic Air Force (Greek Πολεμική Αεροπορία) is the primary air force of Greece. ... The Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) is the air force of Zimbabwe. ... The Royal Thai Air Force is the airforce of Thailand. ...


In Australia, there are only two appointments available for Air Marshals. The Chief of Air Force (CAF), and Vice Chief of Defence Force (VCDF). 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. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was the air force of Canada from 1924 until 1968 when the three branches of the Canadian military were merged into the Canadian Armed Forces. ... The Canadian Forces (French: Forces Canadiennes), abbreviated as CF (French: FC) are the combined armed forces of Canada. ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ...

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See also

Flag of the United Kingdom

British officer ranks // Origins Lieutenant-General David Henderson originally proposed that Royal Air Force officers use a combination of British Army and Royal Navy ranks. ... Comparative military ranks are a means of comparing military rank systems of different nations as a means of categorizing the hierarchy of an armed force compared to another. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... In military organizations, a commissioned officer is a member of the service who derives authority directly from a sovereign power, and as such holds a commission from that power. ...

  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: O/C Mid SLt Lt Lt Cdr Cdr Capt Cdre RAdm VAdm Adm Adm of the Fleet
Royal Marines: OCdt 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 / PO Fg Off Flt Lt Sqn Ldr Wg Cdr Gp Capt ACdre AVM AM ACM MRAF

  Results from FactBites:
 
Marshals: Innocent People Placed On 'Watch List' To Meet Quota (867 words)
The air marshals, whose identities are being concealed, told 7NEWS that they're required to submit at least one report a month.
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One example, according to air marshals, occurred on one flight leaving Las Vegas, when an unknowing passenger, most likely a tourist, was identified in an SDR for doing nothing more than taking a photo of the Las Vegas skyline as his plane rolled down the runway.
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Air marshals had complained passengers could easily spot them because they were required to show their badges publicly at the airline check-in counters and were forced to board in advance.
No on-duty federal air marshals were on board the transatlantic flight that triggered a security scare on Wednesday, according to an FBI affidavit filed in the case against the United passenger whose erratic behavior forced the captain to divert the flight to Boston.
Air marshals, who are specially trained and authorized to carry weapons on board flights to prevent hijackings and terrorists attacks, were surprised to learn they were to be subject to search.
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