Marshal of the air force
Marshal of the air force or marshal of the air is a
The rank originated in the British
In Portuguese the equivalent air force ranks are Marechal do Ar (lit. "Marshal of the Air") in Brazil, or Marechal in Portugal, both of which are sometimes translated as "marshal of the air force". In the past, a similar name has been used for the most senior rank in Italian air forces.
A holder of several senior ranks in the Indonesian air force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara; TNI-AU), may be referred to as a marsekal di TNI-AU (lit. "marshal of the TNI-AU"). The most senior rank is Marsekal Besar ("Grand Marshal") is sometimes translated as "marshal of the air force".
In Nazi Germany, the most senior rank of the Luftwaffe was Generalfeldmarschall (a rank that was also used by the German Army). While the commander of the Luftwaffe, Hermann Göring was the only person to hold the more senior rank of Reichsmarschall, this rank could technically have been bestowed on any senior officer of the Heer (army), Kriegsmarine (navy) and Luftwaffe, which together comprised the Wehrmacht.
While the
Seniority
A marshal of the air force can be properly considered equivalent to an army
In the Air Force of Australia, India, Thailand and the United Kingdom, "Marshals of the Air Force" are immediately senior to
During Germany's Nazi period, the
Insignia and distinguishing flags
Rank insignia
There are a variety of rank insignia in use by the different air forces which maintain a rank of marshal of the air force. Some, such as the Royal Air Force, derive the pattern from the sleeve lace for an admiral of the fleet, using one broad light blue band on a wider broad black band with four narrow light blue bands each on slightly wider black bands. Others use a pattern of stars, typically numbering five in total.
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Marshal of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (New Zealand)
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Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (Malaysia)
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Marshal of the Air Force (Marsekal Besar) (Indonesia)
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Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force (จอมพลอากาศ) (Thailand)
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Marshal of the Air (Marechal do Ar) (Brazil)
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Marshal of the Air Force (Marechal da Força Aérea) (Portugal)
Command flags
The following command or rank flags are or have been in use:
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Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force (จอมพลอากาศ) (Thailand)
Current holders of the rank
This section needs to be updated.(July 2021) |
As of 2017[update], there are 14 living individuals who hold or have held the rank, or its equivalents, of Marshal of the Air Force. 10 of those are royalty who have been appointed to the rank in a ceremonial capacity, including Queen Sirikit of Thailand, the Prince of Wales and the current head of state of Malaysia. In the case of Malaysia, the elected
The Duke of Edinburgh held the ceremonial rank of a Marshal of the Royal Air Force, as well as the honorary ranks of Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force and Marshal of the Royal New Zealand Air Force; owing to their smaller size, however, neither of the latter two air forces have ever used the rank in an operational capacity. Although the rank of Marshal of the Royal Canadian Air Force existed on paper until 1968, the Duke of Edinburgh was never appointed to this rank nor to the other Canadian 5-star ranks before they were abolished that year. In 2012, his
The remaining four holders of the rank were all serving air officers, three of whom served as Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Air Force, and were promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Royal Air Force upon concluding their tenure. Of those, only Lord Craig did not retire then, as he went on to serve as
Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetileke of the Sri Lanka Air Force is the most recent man to gain the rank, having been promoted in October 2019. Goonetileke was credited in playing a major role in ending the almost three decade long civil war in his country. He was recently appointed as the Governor of the Western Province of Sri Lanka.
List of marshals of the air force
Country |
Year of promotion / appointment |
Portrait | Officer |
Rank |
Year of birth |
Year of death |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | 1938 | King George VI | Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force | 1895 | 1952 | Assumed the rank 2 June 1938.[2] | |
Australia | 1954 | Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh | Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force | 1921 | 2021 | Honorary rank. Appointed 1 April 1954.[3] | |
Bahrain | Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah |
Marshal of the Royal Bahrain Air Force | 1950 | - | Honorary rank.[citation needed] | ||
Brazil | 1959 | Armando Figueira Trompowsky de Almeida | Marechal-do-ar | 1889 | 1964 | Promoted 30 January 1959[4] | |
Brazil | 1960 | Eduardo Gomes | Marechal-do-ar | 1896 | 1981 | Patron of the Brazilian Air Force. Promoted 22 September 1960.[5] | |
Brazil | Casimiro Montenegro Filho | Marechal-do-ar | 1904 | 2000 | |||
Egypt | King Farouk | Marshal of the Royal Egyptian Air Force | 1920 | 1965 | Honorary rank.[citation needed] | ||
Egypt | 1952 | King Fuad II | Marshal of the Royal Egyptian Air Force | 1952 | - | Honorary rank. Appointed 26 July 1952 at the age of six months.[citation needed] | |
Ethiopia | Haile Selassie I |
Marshal of the Imperial Ethiopian Air Force | 1892 | 1975 | Honorary rank.[citation needed] | ||
Ethiopia | Amha Selassie |
Marshal of the Imperial Ethiopian Air Force | 1916 | 1997 | Honorary rank.[citation needed] | ||
Germany | 1938 | Hermann Göring | Reichsmarschall | 1893 | 1945 | Promoted to Generalfeldmarschall 4 February 1938, promoted to Reichsmarschall 19 July 1940 | |
Germany | 1940 | Albert Kesselring | Generalfeldmarschall | 1885 | 1960 | Promoted 19 July 1940 | |
Germany | 1940 | Erhard Milch | Generalfeldmarschall | 1892 | 1972 | Promoted 19 July 1940 | |
Germany | 1940 | Hugo Sperrle | Generalfeldmarschall | 1885 | 1953 | Promoted 19 July 1940 | |
Germany | 1943 | Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen |
Generalfeldmarschall | 1895 | 1945 | Promoted 16 February 1943 | |
Germany | 1945 | Robert Ritter von Greim | Generalfeldmarschall | 1892 | 1945 | Promoted 25 April 1945 | |
Greece | 1937 | George II of Greece | Marshal of the Royal Hellenic Air Force | 1890 | 1947 | Honorary rank[6] as commander-in-chef of the Greek armed forces. | |
Greece | 1947 | Paul of Greece | Marshal of the Royal Hellenic Air Force | 1901 | 1964 | Honorary rank as commander-in-chef of the Greek armed forces. | |
Greece | 1964 | Constantine II of Greece | Marshal of the Royal Hellenic Air Force | 1940 | 2023 | Honorary rank as commander-in-chef of the Greek armed forces. | |
India | 2002 | Arjan Singh | Marshal of the Indian Air Force | 1919 | 2017[7] | Promoted. 26 January 2002[8] | |
Iraq | 1933 | King Ghazi | Marshal of the Royal Iraqi Air Force | 1912 | 1939 | Honorary rank. Appointed 8 September 1933 | |
Iraq | 1939 | Prince Abdul Illah |
Marshal of the Royal Iraqi Air Force | 1913 | 1958 | Honorary rank. Appointed 6 April 1939[citation needed] | |
Iraq | 1953 | King Faisal II |
Marshal of the Royal Iraqi Air Force | 1935 | 1958 | Honorary rank. Appointed 2 May 1953 | |
Italy | 1933 | Italo Balbo | Maresciallo dell'Aria | 1896 | 1940 | Promoted August 1933 | |
Jordan | HM King Hussein of Jordan | Marshal of the Royal Jordanian Air Force | 1935 | 1999 | Honorary rank.[9] | ||
Jordan | 1999 | King Abdullah II | Marshal of the Royal Jordanian Air Force | 1962 | - | Honorary rank. Appointed 7 February 1999[9] | |
Malaysia | 1970 | Sultan Abdul Halim | Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force | 1927 | 2017 | Honorary rank. Appointed 21 September 1970.[10] Relinquished role as Head of State on 20 September 1975. Re-appointed Head of State on 13 December 2011. | |
Malaysia | 1975 | Sultan Yahya Petra |
Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force | 1917 | 1979 | Honorary rank. Appointed 21 September 1975[citation needed] | |
Malaysia | 1979 | Sultan Ahmad Shah |
Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force | 1930 | 2019 | Honorary rank. Appointed 30 March 1979[citation needed] | |
Malaysia | 1984 | Sultan Iskandar |
Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force | 1932 | 2010 | Honorary rank. Appointed 26 April 1984,[citation needed] died 22 January 2010. | |
Malaysia | 1989 | Sultan Azlan Shah |
Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force | 1928 | 2014 | Honorary rank. Appointed 26 April 1989[citation needed] died 28 May 2014. | |
Malaysia | 1994 | Tuanku Jaafar |
Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force | 1922 | 2008 | Honorary rank. Appointed 26 April 1994,[citation needed] died 27 December 2008. | |
Malaysia | 1999 | Salahuddin |
Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force | 1926 | 2001 | Honorary rank. Appointed 26 April 1999[citation needed] died 21 November 2001. | |
Malaysia | 2001 | Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin |
Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force | 1943 | - | Honorary rank. Appointed 12 December 2001.[citation needed] | |
Malaysia | 2007 | Mizan Zainal Abidin |
Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force | 1962 | - | Honorary rank. Appointed 16 February 2007.[citation needed] | |
New Zealand | 1977 | Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh | Marshal of the Royal New Zealand Air Force | 1921 | 2021 | Honorary rank. Appointed 11 June 1977.[11] | |
New Zealand | 2015 | King Charles III | Marshal of the Royal New Zealand Air Force | 1948 | - | Honorary rank. Appointed 2 August 2015.[12] | |
Oman | 1974 | Sultan Qaboos |
Marshal of the Royal Air Force of Oman | 1940 | 2020 | Honorary rank.[citation needed] | |
Portugal | 1958 | Francisco Craveiro Lopes | Marechal da Força Aérea | 1894 | 1964 | Honorary rank.[13] | |
Portugal | 1990 | Humberto Delgado | Marechal da Força Aérea | 1906 | 1965 | Posthumous promotion.[14] | |
Saudi Arabia | 1991 | Prince Khalid bin Sultan |
Field Marshal | 1949 | - | ||
Sri Lanka | 2019 | Roshan Goonetileke | Marshal of the Sri Lanka Air Force | 1956 | - | Honorary rank. Promoted 7 August 2019.[15] | |
Thailand | 1941 | Plaek Phibunsongkhram | Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force |
1897 | 1964 | Appointed 28 July 1941.[16] | |
Thailand | 1954 | Fuen Ronnaphagrad Ritthakhanee | Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force | 1900 | 1987 | Appointed 27 July 1954.[17] | |
Thailand | 1959 | Sarit Dhanarajata |
Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force | 1908 | 1963 | Honorary rank. Appointed 28 February 1959.[18] | |
Thailand | 1960 | Chalermkiat Vatthanangkun |
Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force | 1914 | 1960 | Awarded Posthumously, after plane crashed while on duty. Appointed 24 May 1960.[19] | |
Thailand | 1964 | Thanom Kittikachorn | Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force | 1911 | 2004 | Honorary rank. Appointed 11 January 1964.[20] Appointed himself. | |
Thailand | 1973 | Praphas Charusathien | Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force | 1912 | 1997 | Honorary rank. Appointed 6 June 1973.[21] | |
Thailand | 1992 | Queen Sirikit | Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force | 1932 | - | Honorary rank. Appointed 4 August 1992.[22] Possibly the only woman to have held such rank. | |
United Kingdom | 1927 | Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1873 | 1956 | Promoted 1 January 1927. | |
United Kingdom | 1933 | Sir John Salmond | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1881 | 1968 | Promoted 1 January 1933. | |
United Kingdom | 1936 | King Edward VIII | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1894 | 1972 | Honorary rank. Appointed 21 January 1936. | |
United Kingdom | 1936 | King George VI | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1895 | 1952 | Honorary rank. Appointed 11 December 1936. | |
United Kingdom | 1937 | Sir Edward Ellington | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1877 | 1967 | Promoted 1 January 1937. | |
United Kingdom | 1940 | Cyril Newall, 1st Baron Newall | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1886 | 1963 | Promoted 4 October 1940. Retired 20 days later.[23] | |
United Kingdom | 1944 | Charles Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1893 | 1971 | Promoted 1 June 1944. | |
United Kingdom | 1945 | Arthur Tedder, 1st Baron Tedder | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1890 | 1967 | Promoted 12 September 1945. | |
United Kingdom | 1946 | Sholto Douglas, 1st Baron Douglas of Kirtleside | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1893 | 1969 | Promoted 1 January 1946. | |
United Kingdom | 1946 | Sir Arthur Harris |
Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1892 | 1984 | Promoted 1 January 1946, several months after retirement.[24] | |
United Kingdom | 1950 | Sir John Slessor | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1897 | 1979 | Promoted 8 June 1950. | |
United Kingdom | 1953 | Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1921 | 2021 | Honorary rank. Appointed 15 January 1953. | |
United Kingdom | 1954 | Sir William Dickson | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1898 | 1987 | Promoted 1 June 1954. | |
United Kingdom | 1958 | Sir Dermot Boyle | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1904 | 1993 | Promoted 1 January 1958. | |
United Kingdom | 1958 | Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1900 | 1974 | Honorary rank. Appointed 12 June 1958. | |
United Kingdom | 1962 | Sir Thomas Pike | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1906 | 1983 | Promoted 6 April 1962.[25] | |
United Kingdom | 1967 | Charles Elworthy, Baron Elworthy | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1911 | 1993 | Promoted 1 April 1967.[26] | |
United Kingdom | 1971 | Sir John Grandy | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1913 | 2004 | Promoted and retired on the same day (1 April 1971).[27] | |
United Kingdom | 1974 | Sir Denis Spotswood | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1916 | 2001 | Promoted and retired on the same day (31 March 1974).[28] | |
United Kingdom | 1976 | Sir Andrew Humphrey | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1921 | 1977 | Promoted 6 August 1976.[29] | |
United Kingdom | 1977 | Neil Cameron, Baron Cameron of Balhousie | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1920 | 1985 | Promoted 31 July 1977.[30] | |
United Kingdom | 1982 | Sir Michael Beetham | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1923 | 2015 | Promoted and retired on the same day (14 October 1982).[31] | |
United Kingdom | 1985 | Sir Keith Williamson | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1928 | 2018 | Promoted and retired on the same day (15 October 1985).[32] | |
United Kingdom | 1988 | David Craig, Baron Craig of Radley | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1929 | - | Promoted 14 November 1988.[33] | |
United Kingdom | 1992 | Sir Peter Harding | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1933 | 2021 | Promoted 6 November 1992.[34] Resigned commission 14 June 1994.[35] | |
United Kingdom | 2012 | King Charles III | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1948 | - | Honorary rank. Appointed 16 June 2012.[36] | |
United Kingdom | 2014 | Jock Stirrup, Baron Stirrup |
Marshal of the Royal Air Force | 1949 | - | Honorary rank. Promoted 13 June 2014.[37] |
Other countries
The rank also exists or has existed (on paper) in Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
The United States does not use the rank, instead using
Fictional use
A marshal of the air force is mentioned in Roald Dahl's book The BFG. Dahl himself was a Royal Air Force officer during World War II.
See also
- Air force officer rank insignia
References
- ^ CAP 6 Dress Orders for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Ottawa: RCAF, 1958. pp. 3–62.
- ^ "King became first Marshal of the RAAF". Australian Department of Defence. RAAF Air Power Development Centre. 2017 [1938]. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017.
- ^ "No. 40137". The London Gazette. 2 April 1954. p. 1959. Announcement of the appointment of HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, as admiral of the fleet in the Royal Australian Navy, field marshal in the Australian Military Forces and marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force.
- ^ "INCAER - Página inicial". Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
- ^ "Marechal-do-Ar Eduardo Gomes, Patron of the Brazilian Air Force - HISTORY OF THE BRAZILIAN AIR FORCE". Archived from the original on 2017-02-21. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
- ^ The Who's who of the Allied Governments. Vol. 2. Allied Publications. 1942. p. 62.
- ^ "Marshal of IAF Arjan Singh cremated with full state honour". Archived from the original on 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
- ^ "India". Archived from the original on 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ^ a b Jordan Archived 2008-12-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Sultan Abdul Halim". Archived from the original on 2016-12-21. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
- ^ "No. 47237". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 June 1977. p. 7127.
- ^ "Honorary Appointments to the New Zealand Defence Force". New Zealand Gazette. 6 August 2015. Archived from the original on 9 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- ^ "Biography of Craveiro Lopes, Francisco - Archontology.org". Archived from the original on 2017-02-22. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
- ^ "Portugal". Archived from the original on 2015-10-25. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ^ "President awards honorary ranks to a Retired Admiral and Retired Air Chief Marshal - Sri Lanka Latest News". 2019-08-07. Archived from the original on 2019-08-08. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
- Royal Gazette, Announcement of Royal Decree, Volume 58, Page 981, 28 July 2484 B.E.
- , Volume 71, Chapter 47, Page 1672, 27 July 2497 B.E.
- , Volume 76, Chapter 28, Page 12, 28 February 2502 B.E.
- , Volume 77, Chapter 43, Page 2474, 24 May 2503 B.E.
- , Volume 81, Chapter 3, Page 1, 11 January 2507 B.E.
- , Volume 90, Chapter 64, Page 1, 6 June 2516 B.E.
- , Volume 109, Chapter 111, Page 1, 4 August 2535 B.E.
- ^ "Baron Newall". Archived from the original on 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
- ^ Barrass, Malcolm (2007-09-29). "Marshal of the RAF Sir Arthur Harris". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
- ^ Barrass, Malcolm (2007-09-01). "Marshal of the RAF Sir Thomas Pike". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 2012-02-11. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
- ^ Barrass, Malcolm (2007-06-16). "Marshal of the RAF The Lord Elworthy of Timaru". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
- ^ Barrass, Malcolm (2007-06-16). "Marshal of the RAF Sir John Grandy". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
- ^ Barrass, Malcolm (2007-10-07). "Marshal of the RAF Sir Denis Spotswood". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
- ISBN 0-11-772635-4.
- ^ Probert, p. 135.
- ^ Probert, p. 137.
- ^ Probert, p. 139.
- ^ Probert, p. 141.
- ^ "No. 53103". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 November 1992. p. 18862.
- ^ "No. 53814". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 1994. p. 14206.
- ^ "Prince Charles awarded highest rank in all three armed forces," Archived 2012-06-16 at the Wayback Machine Daily Telegraph, 16 June 2012. Accessed 18 June 2012.
- ^ "2014 Birthday Honours for service personnel and defence civilians". Ministry of Defence. 13 June 2014. Archived from the original on 6 July 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
- ^ "::Bangladesh Navy:::..........About BN". Archived from the original on 2007-12-01.
- ^ "Home Appliances World". Archived from the original on 2009-09-27. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
- ^ "Pakistan Air Force". Archived from the original on 2007-03-04. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
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