Marshal of the Royal Air Force

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Marshal of the Royal Air Force (MRAF) is the highest rank in the Royal Air Force^[1]. In peacetime it was held only by RAF officers in the appointment of Chief of the Defence Staff, and by retired Chiefs of the Air Staff, who were promoted to it immediately before retirement. Promotions to the rank have ceased since the British defence cuts of the 1990s. While surviving Marshals of the RAF retain the rank for life[1], the highest rank to which officers on active service are promoted is now Air Chief Marshal, although promotion to Marshal of the Royal Air Force is still possible in wartime, and for members of the Royal Family and certain other very senior officers in peacetime at the discretion of the Monarch.

Marshal of the Royal Air Force is a 5 star rank^[2] and has a NATO ranking code of OF-10, equivalent to an Admiral of the Fleet in the Royal Navy or a Field Marshal in the British Army.^[3]

Contents 1 Origins 2 Insignia, command flag and star plate 3 Marshals of the Royal Air Force 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Origins

Prior to the creation of the RAF's officer rank titles in 1919, it was proposed that by analogy with Field Marshal, the highest rank title should be Air Marshal. It was later decided to use the rank of Air Marshal as an equivalent rank to Lieutenant General^[4] and Marshal of the Air was put forward as the highest RAF rank. This new rank title was opposed by the then Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Sir Henry Wilson, who considered that the title was "ridiculous". However, the Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Hugh Trenchard was unmoved and the title was adopted. This new title, which only existed on paper, did not last long. King George V took the view that the title of Marshal of the Air impinged upon the attributes which should properly be reserved for God and the rank title was changed to Marshal of the Royal Air Force.^[5]

[edit] Insignia, command flag and star plate

The rank insignia consists of four 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 service working dress uniform. Marshals of the Royal Air Force wear shoulder boards with their service dress at ceremonial events.[2]

The command flag of a Marshal of the Royal Air Force has a broad red horizontal band in the centre with a thinner red band on each side of it.

The vehicle star plate for a Marshal of the Royal Air Force depicts five white stars (Marshal of the Royal Air Force is equivalent to a five star rank) on an air force blue background.

The rank insignia and flag exists in other air forces for equivalent ranks. The rank title differs slightly, often being Marshal of the Air Force.

Marshal of the RAF sleeve/shoulder insignia

Marshal of the RAF command flag

Marshal of the RAF star plate

[edit] Marshals of the Royal Air Force

The following officers have held the rank of Marshal of the Royal Air Force (date of promotion in parentheses):

• HM King George V
• Sir Hugh Trenchard (1 January 1927) (later Viscount Trenchard)
• Sir John Salmond (1 January 1933)
• HM King Edward VIII (21 January 1936)
• HM King George VI (11 December 1936) [3]
• Sir Edward Ellington (1 January 1937)
• Sir Cyril Newall (4 October 1940) (later Lord Newall)
• Sir Charles Portal (1 June 1944) (later Viscount Portal of Hungerford)
• Sir Arthur Tedder (12 September 1945) (later Lord Tedder)
• Sir Sholto Douglas (1 January 1946) (later Lord Douglas of Kirtleside)
• Sir Arthur Harris (1 January 1946)
• Sir John Slessor (8 June 1950)
• HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (15 January 1953)
• Sir William Dickson (1 June 1954)
• Sir Dermot Boyle (1 January 1958)
• HRH The Duke of Gloucester (12 June 1958)
• Sir Thomas Pike (6 April 1962)
• Sir Samuel Elworthy (1 April 1967) (later Lord Elworthy)
• Sir John Grandy (1 April 1971)
• Sir Denis Spotswood (31 March 1974)
• Sir Andrew Humphrey (6 August 1976)
• Sir Neil Cameron (31 July 1977) (later Lord Cameron of Balhousie)
• Sir Michael Beetham (14 October 1982)
• Sir Keith Williamson (15 October 1985)
• Sir David Craig (14 November 1988) (later Lord Craig of Radley)
• Sir Peter Harding (6 November 1992)

Excluding monarchs and members of the Royal Family, the only two RAF officers ever to have held the rank without serving as Chief of the Air Staff were Lord Douglas of Kirtleside and Sir Arthur Harris.

[edit] See also

• RAF officer ranks
• Comparative military ranks
• Marshal of the Air Force

[edit] References

v • d • e Commissioned Officer ranks of the British Armed Forces
	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 Cdt	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	O Cdt		2Lt	Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig	Maj-Gen	Lt Gen	Gen	FM
Royal Air Force	OC		APO / Plt Off	Fg Off	Flt Lt	Sqn Ldr	Wg Cdr	Gp Capt	Air Cdre	AVM	Air Mshl	Air Chf Mshl	MRAF