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{{Short description|High ranking officer in an air force}}
] in RAF No 1 Dress uniform]]
{{Main list|List of Royal Air Force air chief marshals}}
'''Air chief marshal''' ('''Air Chf Mshl''' or '''ACM''') is a ] ] rank which originated in and continues to be used by the ] (RAF).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/structure/commissionedranks.cfm |title=Ranks and Badges of the Royal Air Force |accessdate= 1 December 2007 |year=2007 |publisher=]| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20071214025748/http://www.raf.mod.uk/structure/commissionedranks.cfm| archivedate= 14 December 2007 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. Officers in the rank of air chief marshal typically hold very senior appointments such as the air force or armed forces commander in those nations which have significant military capability. An air chief marshal may be described generically as an "air marshal".
{{See also|RAF officer ranks}}
{{Refimprove|date=October 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Military ranks | state=expanded}}
'''Air chief marshal''' ('''Air Chf Mshl''' or '''ACM''') is a high-ranking ] rank used by some air forces, with origins from the ]. The rank is used by air forces of many ]. This rank is also equivalent to an ] in a ] or a ] in an ] or other nations' air forces.


The rank of air chief marshal is immediately senior to the rank of ] but subordinate to ]. Air chief marshals are sometimes generically considered to be air marshals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/professions/armed-forces/royal-air-force/air-chief-marshal-air-marshal-and-air-vice |title=Forms of Address: Air Chief Marshal, Air Marshal and Air Vice-Marshal |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=Debrett's |access-date=4 December 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119043809/http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/professions/armed-forces/royal-air-force/air-chief-marshal-air-marshal-and-air-vice |archive-date=19 November 2015 }}</ref>
==Seniority==
<!--PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE NATO OF CODES. THEY GO FROM 1 TO 10 AND ARE NOT THE SAME AS UNITED STATES O CODES WHICH RANK FROM 1 TO 11. OF-1 COVERS BOTH O-1 AND O-2-->
Air Chief Marshal is a ]<ref></ref> and has a ] ranking code of OF-9. An Air Chief Marshal is equivalent to a "full" ] or a "full" ] in the United Kingdom, the United States and elsewhere.


== Australia ==
The rank of Air Chief Marshal is immediately senior to the rank of ] but subordinate to ] (or other national equivalent - see ]). Although no RAF officer has been promoted to Marshal of the Royal Air Force since the British defence cuts of the 1990s, British Air Chief Marshals are not the most senior officers in the RAF as several officers continue to retain the RAF's highest rank. These officers are still to be found on the RAF's active list even though they have for all practical purposes retired. A similar situation also exists in the ] as the honorary promotion of ] to ] in 2002 resulted in Indian Air Chief Marshals no longer being the most senior IAF officers.
{{main|Air chief marshal (Australia)}}
{{see also|Australian Defence Force ranks}}


In the ], this rank is only used when the ] is an Air Force officer. When this is not the case, the senior ranking Air Force officer is the ], holding the rank of ].<ref name="Australia">{{cite web |title=Badges of rank |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/images/Badges_of_rank.pdf |website=defence.gov.au |publisher=Department of Defence (Australia) |access-date=31 May 2021 |archive-date=1 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901144804/https://www.defence.gov.au/images/Badges_of_rank.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Origins==
Prior to the adoption of RAF-specific rank titles in 1919, it was suggested that the RAF might use the ]'s officer ranks, with the word "Air" inserted before the naval rank title. For example, the rank that later became Air Chief Marshal would have been Air Admiral. The ] objected to any use of their rank titles, including this modified form, and so an alternative proposal was put forward: ] ranks would be based on the term "Ardian", which was derived from a combination of the ] words for "chief" (''ard'') and "bird" (''eun''), with the unmodified word "Ardian" being used specifically for the equivalent to full Admiral and General. However, Air Chief Marshal was preferred and was adopted on 1 August 1919. The rank was first used on 1 April 1922 with the promotion of ].<ref>http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Trenchard.htm</ref> With Trenchard's promotion to Marshal of the RAF on 1 January 1927, no officer held the rank until Sir ] was promoted on 1 January 1929. It has been used continuously ever since.


With the establishment of the Australian Air Board on 9 November 1920, Australian Air Corps officers dropped their army ranks in favour of those based on the Royal Air Force. However, it was not until 1965 when ] became Chairman of the Australian Chiefs of Staff Committee, and was promoted to air chief marshal that an RAAF officer attained the rank. Throughout the history of the RAAF, only four of its officers have held the rank. Apart from Scherger, they are ] (promoted 1982), ] (promoted 2005) and ] (promoted 2014). McNamara, Houston and Binskin are former Australian Defence Force chiefs; as of November 2024, Admiral ] is the current chief of the Australian Defence Force.
==Royal Air Force usage==
{{See also|List of Royal Air Force air chief marshals}}
In the RAF, the rank of Air Chief Marshal is held by the current ] (currently ]) and the Commander-in-Chief of ] (currently ]). Additionally, RAF officers serving in British ] rotational posts hold the rank of air chief marshal and currently ], the Commander of ], is the only RAF officer in such a post. Throughout the history of the RAF, in excess of 130 RAF officers have held the rank and it has also been awarded in an honorary capacity to senior members of the ] and allied foreign monarchs.


== Bangladesh ==
The rank insignia consists of three 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 lower sleeves of the service dress jacket or on the shoulders of the flying suit or working uniform. The command flag for an RAF Air Chief Marshal is defined by the two broad red bands running through the centre of the flag. The vehicle star plate for an RAF Air Chief Marshal depicts four white stars (Air Chief Marshal is a four-star rank) on an air force blue background.
{{main|Air Chief Marshal (Bangladesh)}}
In 2016 the Bangladeshi ] position was upgraded from air marshal to air chief marshal rank.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.daily-sun.com/printversion/details/107524/Navy-BAF-chiefs%E2%80%99-rank-upgraded |title=Navy, BAF chiefs' rank upgraded |website=Daily-sun.com |date=2016-01-17 |accessdate=2016-07-19 |archive-date=17 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817040915/http://www.daily-sun.com/printversion/details/107524/Navy-BAF-chiefs%E2%80%99-rank-upgraded |url-status=live }}</ref> Since then the rank has been held by ], ], ], and ].


== Canada ==
<gallery>
Throughout the 20th century history of the ], only two officers held the rank of air chief marshal. They were: ]<ref name="Canada in the Second World War">{{cite web|url=https://www.junobeach.org/canada-in-the-second-world-war/|title=Canada in the Second World War|date=21 February 2014|website=Juno Beach Centre|access-date=27 February 2019|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922042605/http://www.junobeach.org/canada-in-the-second-world-war/|url-status=live}}</ref> (promoted 1945) and ]<ref>{{cite journal|author=Stouffer, Ray |url=http://www.journal.dnd.ca/vol10/no2/08-stouffer-eng.asp |title=Air Chief Marshal Frank Miller – A Civilian and Military Leader |journal=Canadian Military Journal |volume=10 |number=2 |date=2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926121630/http://www.journal.dnd.ca/vol10/no2/08-stouffer-eng.asp |archive-date=26 September 2010 }}</ref> (promoted 1961). The rank existed on paper until the 1968 unification of the ], when Army-type rank titles were adopted and the rank of air chief marshal was replaced by that of full ]. As no serving officers held the rank in 1968, no Canadian air chief marshals were regraded to general and Miller, the then only living retired air chief marshal, retained his rank. When Miller died in 1997 the Canadian rank of air chief marshal effectively passed into history. The 21st century re-creation of the Royal Canadian Air Force has not seen the rank revived and as of 2014 there are no plans for such a change. Army-style rank titles continue to be used although a return to the former insignia has been enacted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/article-template-standard.page?doc=rcaf-receives-new-rank-insignia/i0dslgrl|title=News Article – RCAF receives new rank insignia|first=National Defence|last=Government of Canada|date=25 September 2014|website=www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca|access-date=26 October 2014|archive-date=8 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008112025/http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/article-template-standard.page?doc=rcaf-receives-new-rank-insignia/i0dslgrl|url-status=live}}</ref> In official ] usage, the rank title was {{lang|fr|maréchal en chef de l'air}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.castlearchdale.net/id37.html |title=The RCAF |website=www.castlearchdale.net |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603201652/http://www.castlearchdale.net/id37.html |archive-date=3 June 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Image:UK-Air-OF9.svg|An RAF air chief marshal's sleeve/shoulder insignia
File:File-UK-Air-OF9-mess-insignia.svg|An RAF air chief marshal's mess sleeve insignia
File:UK-Air-OF7n9-shoulder.svg|An RAF air chief marshal's shoulder board
File:RAF-ACM-OF-9.png|An RAF Air Chief Marshal's sleeve on No. 1 Service Dress Uniform
Image:UK-Air-OF9-Flag.svg|An RAF air chief marshal's command flag
Image:Air Chief Marshal star plate.svg|An RAF air chief marshal's star plate
</gallery>


==Other air forces== == India ==
{{Main|Air chief marshal (India)}}
===English-speaking countries===
The rank of Air Chief Marshal is also used in the air forces of many countries which have English as an official language and were under British influence around the time their air force was founded. This includes many the air forces of many ] countries. Officers have served in the rank of Air Chief Marshal in the ], ],<ref></ref> ], ], ] and the ]. It is also maintained as a rank in the ], ] and ] but given the smaller size of these air forces none of them have ever actually used it.


In the ], the ] (CAS) (currently ACM ]) holds the rank of Air Chief Marshal. The position of the CAS was upgraded from ] to Air Chief Marshal in 1966. The first IAF officer to hold this rank was Air Chief Marshal ] (later promoted to the ] of ]) who was promoted to the rank in 1966 while he served as the CAS.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Legends/Arjan.html |title=Arjan |access-date=4 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327195335/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Legends/Arjan.html |archive-date=27 March 2008 }}</ref> Post 1966, all the Indian air chiefs have held the rank. As of 2014, 19 Indian chiefs of the air staff have held the rank. In the Indian Air Force the honorary promotion of Arjan Singh to ] in 2002 resulted in Indian air chief marshals no longer being the most senior IAF officers until Singh's death in 2017.
] Air Chief Marshal.]]


==Namibia==
====Indian Air Force====
{{see also|Military ranks of Namibia}}
The first Indian Air Force officer to hold the rank of air chief marshal was ] who was promoted in the second half of the 1960s while he served as ].<ref>http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Legends/Arjan.html</ref> Since that time all Indian air chiefs have held the rank. From the 1960s to 2011, 18 Indian chiefs of the air staff have held the rank.


In the ], the rank is known as Chief air marshal.<ref name="Namibia" />
====Nigerian Air Force====
In Nigeria, only the ] holds ]. The first Nigerian Air Force officer to attain the rank of air chief marshal was ] upon his appointment as the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff in 2008. Dike was succeeded as Chief of the Defence Staff in 2010 by Air Chief Marshal ]. The Nigerian Chief of Air Staff is normally a three-star air marshal.


== Nigeria ==
====Pakistan Air Force====
{{see also|Military ranks of Nigeria}}
] wearing his four-star rank insignia (four-star visible on his head-dress).]]
] Air Chief Marshal's four-star rank shoulder insignia.]]
In March 1976, as part of a Pakistani Defence Ministry reorganization, the post of ], the head of the Pakistan Air Force, was upgraded from air marshal to air chief marshal rank. ] was the first to hold the rank and in total from 1976 to 2012 there have been 12 Pakistani air chiefs who have held air chief marshal rank. To date all Pakistani air chief marshals have been members of the ]. However, only Air Chief Marshal ] has served as ], the supreme commandant of Pakistan Armed Forces. Air Chief Marshal ] assumed the post of Chief of Air Staff in March 2012.


The Nigerian air chief marshal is the second highest-ranking officer in the ], below ].<ref name="Nigeria" /> Only the ] holds ]. The first Nigerian Air Force officer to attain the rank of air chief marshal was ] upon his appointment as the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff in 2008. Dike was succeeded as Chief of the Defence Staff in 2010 by Air Chief Marshal ]. In 2014, ] was appointed Chief of Defence Staff and promoted to air chief marshal. The Nigerian Chief of Air Staff is normally a three-star air marshal.
Originally, a Pakistani air chief marshal's rank insignia was essentially the same as the RAF insignia. In 2006 the Pakistan Air Force changed ], abandoning the ring insignia in favour of a Turkish Army-style featuring four stars and a crossed swords and laurel device.


== Pakistan ==
====Royal Australian Air Force====
In March 1976, as part of a Pakistani Defence Ministry reorganization, the post of ], the head of the Pakistan Air Force, was upgraded from air marshal to air chief marshal rank. To date all Pakistani air chief marshals have been members of the ]. However, only Air Chief Marshal ] has served as ], the supreme commandant of Pakistan Armed Forces.
]'s rank insignia]]
{{main|Air Chief Marshal (Australia)}}
In Australia, this rank is only used when the ] (CDF) is an Air Force officer. When this is not the case, the senior ranking Air Force officer is the ], holding the rank of ].


Originally, a Pakistani air chief marshal's rank insignia was essentially the same as the RAF insignia. In 2006 the Pakistan Air Force changed ],<ref name="Rank change">{{cite news|title=PAF changes officers' rank insignia |url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=14307&Cat=2&dt=7/6/2006 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416131903/http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=14307&Cat=2&dt=7/6/2006 |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 April 2013 |access-date=25 January 2012 |newspaper=The News |date=6 July 2006 }}</ref> abandoning the ring insignia in favor of a Turkish Air Force-style featuring four stars and a crossed swords and laurel device.
With the establishment of the Australian Air Board on 9 November 1920, Australian Air Corps officers dropped their army ranks in favour of those based on the Royal Air Force. However, it was not until 1965 when ] became Chairman of the Australian Chiefs of Staff Committee, and was promoted to Air Chief Marshal that an RAAF officer attained the rank. Throughout the history of the RAAF, only three of its officers have held the rank. Apart from Scherger, they are ] (in 1982) and ] (promoted 2005), the former Chief of the Australian Defence Force.


====Royal Canadian Air Force==== == Sri Lanka ==
In Sri Lanka, only the ] holds an active ].<ref name="CO">{{cite web |title=Commissioned Officers |url=http://www.airforce.lk/ranks.php |website=airforce.lk |publisher=Sri Lanka Air Force |access-date=24 September 2021 |archive-date=23 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123214043/https://airforce.lk/ranks.php |url-status=live }}</ref> Retiring ] are promoted to the rank of air chief marshal as an outgoing honour. Air Chief Marshal ] was the first CDS appointed from the Air Force and Air Chief Marshal ] became the first serving Air Force Commander to be appointed to the rank of air chief marshal as part of the victory celebrations.
The ] used this rank until the 1968 unification of the ], when Army-type rank titles were adopted and an Air Chief Marshal became a ]. Throughout the history of the Royal Canadian Air Force, only two officers held this rank: ]<ref>http://www.junobeach.org/e/3/can-pep-can-breadner-e.htm</ref> and ].<ref>http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/frank-robert-miller</ref> In official French Canadian usage, the rank title was ''maréchal en chef de l'air''.


== Thailand ==
===Use in non-English-speaking countries===
{{refimprove|section|date=July 2023}}
The rank of Air Chief Marshal is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In such situations, it is sometimes the case that the non-English rank might also be translated as "general". Nonetheless, it is commonly found in English translations relating to officers in the following air forces:
The ] the ] has been promoted to the rank of air chief marshal ({{langx|th|พลอากาศเอก|Phon Akat Ek}}) since {{Circa|1950}}. The present commander is Air Chief Marshal ] who is supported by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief (currently Air Chief Marshal Chanon Mungthanya) and the Assistant Commander-in-Chief (currently Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul). If an air force officer is appointed to the position of ] (formerly Supreme Commander), then he has always held the rank of air chief marshal. The last air chief marshal to be appointed Supreme Commander was Air Chief Marshal Voranat Aphichari who retired in 1994.


In November 2007 it became known that Crown Prince ] (now king of Thailand) had granted the title of Air Chief Marshal to his pet ] ]. The dog died in 2015.<ref>Andrew MacGregor Marshall: ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507065513/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/05/thai-crown-prince-pet-poodle-air-chief-marshal-foo-foo-cremated |date=7 May 2019 }}). '']'', 5 February 2015</ref><ref>Gordon Rayner: ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301105036/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/wikileaks/8304660/WikiLeaks-cables-Thailands-royal-pet.html |date=1 March 2014 }}) '']'', 5 February 2011.</ref>
*]<ref>{{cite web | title=Air Marshal Mohammed Honsi Mubarak | url=http://www.mmc.gov.eg/branches/AIRFORCE/gg16.htm | work=Egyptian Armed Forces Web Site | publisher=Egyptian Armed Forces | accessdate=30 May 2009}}</ref>
*]
*] ({{lang-id|Marsekal}} - literally just "Marshal"){{Citation needed|date=August 2007}}
*] ({{lang-th|Phon Akat Ek}})


== United Kingdom ==
====Hellenic Air Force====
{{see also|RAF officer ranks}}
]
{{Infobox military rank
The only time an officer in the ] is granted the rank of air chief marshal ({{lang-el|Πτέραρχος, translit. ''Pterarchos''}}) is when an Air Force officer is appointed as Chief of the ], Greece's senior military appointment. The Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff holds the more junior rank of air marshal. The following Greek officers have held the rank of air chief marshal:
| name = Air chief marshal
*], promoted 1984, retired 1989
| image = UK-Air-OF9-Flag.svg
*], promoted 1996, retired 1999
| image_size = 150px
*], promoted 2009, retired 2011
| caption = Command flag
| image2 = United Kingdom-Air force-OF-9-collected.svg
| image_size2 = 100px
| caption2 = Shoulder and sleeve insignia
| image3 = File:Air Chief Marshal star plate.svg
| image_size3 = 100px
| caption3 = An RAF Air Chief Marshal star plate
| country = {{country|United Kingdom}}
| service branch = {{air force|United Kingdom}}
| abbreviation = Air Chf Mshl / ACM
| rank = ]
| NATO rank = ]
| Non-NATO rank =
| formation = {{start date|1919|08|01|df=y}}
| abolished =
| higher rank = ]
| lower rank = ]
| equivalents = {{unbulleted list|{{nowrap|] (]; ])}}|] (])}}
| history =
}}
===Origins===
Prior to the adoption of RAF-specific rank titles in 1919, it was suggested that the RAF might use the ]'s officer ranks, with the word "air" inserted before the naval rank title. For example, the rank that later became air chief marshal would have been air admiral. The ] objected to any use of their rank titles, including this modified form, and so an alternative proposal was put forward: ] ranks would be based on the term "ardian", which was derived from a combination of the ] words for "chief" (''ard'') and "bird" (''eun''), with the unmodified word "ardian" being used specifically for the equivalent to full admiral and general. However, air chief marshal was preferred and was adopted in August 1919.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hobart |first=Malcolm C |date=2000 |title=Badges and Uniforms of the Royal Air Force |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ATMDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT29 |publisher=Leo Cooper |page=26 |isbn=0-85052-739-2}}</ref> The rank was first used on 1 April 1922 with the promotion of ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Trenchard.htm|title=H M Trenchard_P|website=www.rafweb.org|access-date=2 April 2009|archive-date=4 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204041058/http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Trenchard.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> With Trenchard's promotion to marshal of the RAF on 1 January 1927, no officer held the rank until Sir ] was promoted on 1 January 1929. It has been used continuously ever since.


In the RAF, the rank of air chief marshal is held by the serving ] (currently Sir ]). Additionally, RAF officers appointed to ] tri-service posts hold the rank of air chief marshal. Throughout the history of the RAF, ] and it has also been awarded in an honorary capacity to senior members of the ] and allied foreign monarchs.
====Royal Thai Air Force====
] air chief marshal.]]
The ] the ] has been promoted to the rank of air chief marshal ({{lang-th|พลอากาศเอก, ''Phon Akat Ek''}}) since c. 1950. From 1950 to 2012 there have been 18 Royal Thai Air Force commanders who have held the rank. The present commander is Air Chief Marshal ] who is supported by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief (currently Air Chief Marshal Kanaphan Sanguansat) and the Assistant Commander-in-Chief (currently Air Chief Marshal M.L. Suthirat Kasemsan). In the event that an air force officer is appointed to the position of ] (formerly Supreme Commander), then he has always held the rank of air chief marshal. The last air chief marshal to be appointed Supreme Commander was Air Chief Marshal Voranat Aphichari who retired in 1994.


Although no serving RAF officer has been promoted to marshal of the Royal Air Force since the British defence cuts of the 1990s, British air chief marshals are not the most senior officers in the RAF as several officers continue to retain the RAF's highest rank. Additionally, ] was granted an honorary promotion to marshal of the Royal Air Force in 2014. The marshals are still to be found on the RAF's active list even though they have for all practical purposes retired.
==Notable air chief marshals==

*], commander of ] during the Battle of Britain.
===RAF insignia, command flag and star plate===
*], the first Canadian to hold the rank.<ref></ref>
The rank insignia consists of three 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 lower sleeves of the service dress jacket or on the shoulders of the flying suit or working uniform. The command flag for an RAF air chief marshal is defined by the two broad red bands running through the centre of the flag. The vehicle star plate for an RAF air chief marshal depicts four white stars (air chief marshal is a four-star rank) on an air force blue background.
*], President of Egypt from 1981 to 2011.<ref name="EAF">{{cite web | title=Air Marshal Mohammed Hosni Mubarak | url=http://www.mmc.gov.eg/branches/AIRFORCE/gg16.htm | work=Egyptian Armed Forces Web Site | publisher=Egyptian Armed Forces | accessdate=2011-02-14}}</ref>

*], the first ] of ] in 2007
==Gallery==
*], the former ].
<!--In alphabetic order of country name please-->
<gallery class=center>
File:United Kingdom-AirForce-OF-9 Sleeve.svg|(])<ref name="Australia"/>
File:British RAF OF-9.svg|(])<ref>{{cite web |title=OFFICER'S RANKS |url=http://www.joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd/index.php/main_controll/ranks_structure_baf?1=1&pagemenu=ranks_structure_baf&submenu=1&leafsub=0 |website=joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd |access-date=11 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219212643/http://www.joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd/index.php/main_controll/ranks_structure_baf?1=1&pagemenu=ranks_structure_baf&submenu=1&leafsub=0 |archive-date=19 February 2020}}</ref>
File:16.Ghana Air Force-GEN.svg|(])<ref name="Ghana_AirForce">{{cite web |title=Rank Structure |url=http://gafonline.mil.gh/airforce/index.php/subhome/rank-structure |website=gafonline.mil.gh |publisher=Ghana Air Force |access-date=3 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121080703/http://gafonline.mil.gh/airforce/index.php/subhome/rank-structure |archive-date=21 January 2018 |date=2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
File:United Kingdom-AirForce-OF-9 Sleeve.svg|(])<ref>{{cite web |title=For Officers |url=http://www.careerairforce.nic.in/life_airforce/lifeair_cargraph_officers.html |website=careerairforce.nic.in |publisher=Indian Air Force |access-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225210317/http://www.careerairforce.nic.in/life_airforce/lifeair_cargraph_officers.html |archive-date=25 February 2012}}</ref>
File:16-Namibia Air Force-ACM.svg|(])<ref name="Namibia">{{cite magazine |title=Government Notice |magazine=Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia |date=20 August 2010 |volume=4547 |pages=99–102 |url=http://www.lac.org.na/laws/2010/4547.pdf |access-date=20 December 2021 |archive-date=6 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206121209/http://www.lac.org.na/laws/2010/4547.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
File:Nigeria-AirForce-OF-9.svg|(])<ref name="Nigeria">{{cite book |last1=Smaldone |first1=Joseph P. |editor1-last=Metz |editor1-first=Helen Chapin |editor-link=Helen Chapin Metz |title=Nigeria: a country study |series=Area Handbook |date=1992 |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |lccn=92009026 |pages=296–297 |edition=5th |url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.nigeriacountryst00metz_0/?sp=340 |access-date=21 October 2021 |chapter=National Security |archive-date=21 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021094641/https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.nigeriacountryst00metz_0/?sp=340 |url-status=live }}</ref>
File:Pak-air-force-OF-9.svg|(])
File:United Kingdom-AirForce-OF-9 Sleeve.svg|(])<ref name="CO"/>
File:United Kingdom-AirForce-OF-9 Sleeve.svg|(])<ref name="UK_AirForce">{{cite web |title=RAF Ranks |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/raf-ranks/ |website=raf.mod.uk/ |publisher=Royal Air Force |access-date=21 September 2021 |archive-date=6 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006100626/https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/raf-ranks/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
File:Canadian RCAF Mess Dress Of-09.png|(])<ref name="Zimbabwe_AirForce">{{cite web |title=RANKS AND BADGES IN THE AFZ |url=http://www.afz.gov.zw/?page_id=1115 |website=afz.gov.zw |publisher=Air Force of Zimbabwe |access-date=29 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609134525/http://www.afz.gov.zw/?page_id=1115 |archive-date=9 June 2022}}</ref>
</gallery>


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== References ==
==References and notes==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}

== External links ==
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{{UK officer ranks}} {{UK officer ranks}}
{{Military ranks by country}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2010}}
{{Star officer ranks}}
{{Highest Military Ranks}}


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Latest revision as of 18:33, 10 December 2024

High ranking officer in an air force For a more comprehensive list, see List of Royal Air Force air chief marshals. See also: RAF officer ranks
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Comparative military ranks
Armies,
air forces
(non-Commonwealth)
Navies,
coast guards
Air forces
(Commonwealth system)
General officers, Flag officers, Air officers
Field marshal Admiral of the fleet Marshal of the air force
General or
colonel general or
army general
Admiral Air chief marshal
Lieutenant general or
army corps general
Vice admiral Air marshal
Major general or
divisional general
Rear admiral or
Counter admiral
Air vice-marshal
Brigadier or
brigadier general
Commodore or
flotilla admiral
Air commodore
Senior officers
Colonel (Ship-of-the-line)
Captain
Group captain
Lieutenant colonel Frigate captain or
Commander
Wing commander
Major or
commandant
Corvette captain or Lieutenant
commander
Squadron leader
Junior officers
Captain Lieutenant Flight lieutenant
First lieutenant or
lieutenant
Lieutenant
junior grade
or
sub-lieutenant
Flying officer
Second lieutenant or
junior lieutenant
Ensign or
midshipman
Pilot officer
Non-commissioned officers
Warrant officer or
sergeant major
Warrant officer or
chief petty officer
Warrant officer
Sergeant Petty officer Sergeant
Enlisted ranks
Corporal or
bombardier
Leading seaman Corporal
Lance corporal or
Lance bombardier or
Specialist
Able seaman Leading aircraftman or
Air specialist
Private or
gunner or
trooper or
sapper
Seaman Aircraftman or
airman or
aviator

Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. This rank is also equivalent to an Admiral in a navy or a full general in an army or other nations' air forces.

The rank of air chief marshal is immediately senior to the rank of air marshal but subordinate to marshal of the air force. Air chief marshals are sometimes generically considered to be air marshals.

Australia

Main article: Air chief marshal (Australia) See also: Australian Defence Force ranks

In the Royal Australian Air Force, this rank is only used when the Chief of the Defence Force is an Air Force officer. When this is not the case, the senior ranking Air Force officer is the Chief of Air Force, holding the rank of air marshal.

With the establishment of the Australian Air Board on 9 November 1920, Australian Air Corps officers dropped their army ranks in favour of those based on the Royal Air Force. However, it was not until 1965 when Sir Frederick Scherger became Chairman of the Australian Chiefs of Staff Committee, and was promoted to air chief marshal that an RAAF officer attained the rank. Throughout the history of the RAAF, only four of its officers have held the rank. Apart from Scherger, they are Sir Neville McNamara (promoted 1982), Sir Angus Houston (promoted 2005) and Mark Binskin (promoted 2014). McNamara, Houston and Binskin are former Australian Defence Force chiefs; as of November 2024, Admiral David Johnston is the current chief of the Australian Defence Force.

Bangladesh

Main article: Air Chief Marshal (Bangladesh)

In 2016 the Bangladeshi Chief of Air Staff position was upgraded from air marshal to air chief marshal rank. Since then the rank has been held by Abu Esrar, Masihuzzaman Serniabat, Shaikh Abdul Hannan, and Hasan Mahmood Khan.

Canada

Throughout the 20th century history of the Royal Canadian Air Force, only two officers held the rank of air chief marshal. They were: Lloyd Samuel Breadner (promoted 1945) and Frank Robert Miller (promoted 1961). The rank existed on paper until the 1968 unification of the Canadian Forces, when Army-type rank titles were adopted and the rank of air chief marshal was replaced by that of full general. As no serving officers held the rank in 1968, no Canadian air chief marshals were regraded to general and Miller, the then only living retired air chief marshal, retained his rank. When Miller died in 1997 the Canadian rank of air chief marshal effectively passed into history. The 21st century re-creation of the Royal Canadian Air Force has not seen the rank revived and as of 2014 there are no plans for such a change. Army-style rank titles continue to be used although a return to the former insignia has been enacted. In official Canadian French usage, the rank title was maréchal en chef de l'air.

India

Main article: Air chief marshal (India)

In the Indian Air Force, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) (currently ACM Amar Preet Singh) holds the rank of Air Chief Marshal. The position of the CAS was upgraded from Air Marshal to Air Chief Marshal in 1966. The first IAF officer to hold this rank was Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh (later promoted to the five-star rank of marshal of the Indian Air Force) who was promoted to the rank in 1966 while he served as the CAS. Post 1966, all the Indian air chiefs have held the rank. As of 2014, 19 Indian chiefs of the air staff have held the rank. In the Indian Air Force the honorary promotion of Arjan Singh to marshal of the Indian Air Force in 2002 resulted in Indian air chief marshals no longer being the most senior IAF officers until Singh's death in 2017.

Namibia

See also: Military ranks of Namibia

In the Namibian Air Force, the rank is known as Chief air marshal.

Nigeria

See also: Military ranks of Nigeria

The Nigerian air chief marshal is the second highest-ranking officer in the Nigerian Air Force, below Marshal of the air force. Only the Chief of the Defence Staff holds four-star rank. The first Nigerian Air Force officer to attain the rank of air chief marshal was Paul Dike upon his appointment as the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff in 2008. Dike was succeeded as Chief of the Defence Staff in 2010 by Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin. In 2014, Alex Sabundu Badeh was appointed Chief of Defence Staff and promoted to air chief marshal. The Nigerian Chief of Air Staff is normally a three-star air marshal.

Pakistan

In March 1976, as part of a Pakistani Defence Ministry reorganization, the post of Chief of Air Staff, the head of the Pakistan Air Force, was upgraded from air marshal to air chief marshal rank. To date all Pakistani air chief marshals have been members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. However, only Air Chief Marshal Farooq Feroze Khan has served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, the supreme commandant of Pakistan Armed Forces.

Originally, a Pakistani air chief marshal's rank insignia was essentially the same as the RAF insignia. In 2006 the Pakistan Air Force changed the rank insignia for its officers, abandoning the ring insignia in favor of a Turkish Air Force-style featuring four stars and a crossed swords and laurel device.

Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, only the Chief of Defence Staff holds an active four-star rank. Retiring Commanders of the Sri Lanka Air Force are promoted to the rank of air chief marshal as an outgoing honour. Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera was the first CDS appointed from the Air Force and Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke became the first serving Air Force Commander to be appointed to the rank of air chief marshal as part of the victory celebrations.

Thailand

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The officer appointed to command the Royal Thai Air Force has been promoted to the rank of air chief marshal (Thai: พลอากาศเอก, romanizedPhon Akat Ek) since c. 1950. The present commander is Air Chief Marshal Alongkorn Wannarot who is supported by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief (currently Air Chief Marshal Chanon Mungthanya) and the Assistant Commander-in-Chief (currently Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul). If an air force officer is appointed to the position of Chief of Defence Forces (formerly Supreme Commander), then he has always held the rank of air chief marshal. The last air chief marshal to be appointed Supreme Commander was Air Chief Marshal Voranat Aphichari who retired in 1994.

In November 2007 it became known that Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn (now king of Thailand) had granted the title of Air Chief Marshal to his pet poodle Fufu. The dog died in 2015.

United Kingdom

See also: RAF officer ranks
Air chief marshal
Command flag
Shoulder and sleeve insignia
An RAF Air Chief Marshal star plate
Country United Kingdom
Service branch Royal Air Force
AbbreviationAir Chf Mshl / ACM
RankFour-star
NATO rank codeOF-9
Formation1 August 1919 (1919-08-01)
Next higher rankMarshal of the Royal Air Force
Next lower rankAir marshal
Equivalent ranks

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 chief marshal would have been air 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 unmodified word "ardian" being used specifically for the equivalent to full admiral and general. However, air chief marshal was preferred and was adopted in August 1919. The rank was first used on 1 April 1922 with the promotion of Sir Hugh Trenchard. With Trenchard's promotion to marshal of the RAF on 1 January 1927, no officer held the rank until Sir John Salmond was promoted on 1 January 1929. It has been used continuously ever since.

In the RAF, the rank of air chief marshal is held by the serving Chief of the Air Staff (currently Sir Richard Knighton). Additionally, RAF officers appointed to four-star tri-service posts hold the rank of air chief marshal. Throughout the history of the RAF, 141 RAF officers have held the rank and it has also been awarded in an honorary capacity to senior members of the British Royal Family and allied foreign monarchs.

Although no serving RAF officer has been promoted to marshal of the Royal Air Force since the British defence cuts of the 1990s, British air chief marshals are not the most senior officers in the RAF as several officers continue to retain the RAF's highest rank. Additionally, Lord Stirrup was granted an honorary promotion to marshal of the Royal Air Force in 2014. The marshals are still to be found on the RAF's active list even though they have for all practical purposes retired.

RAF insignia, command flag and star plate

The rank insignia consists of three 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 lower sleeves of the service dress jacket or on the shoulders of the flying suit or working uniform. The command flag for an RAF air chief marshal is defined by the two broad red bands running through the centre of the flag. The vehicle star plate for an RAF air chief marshal depicts four white stars (air chief marshal is a four-star rank) on an air force blue background.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. "Forms of Address: Air Chief Marshal, Air Marshal and Air Vice-Marshal". Debrett's. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Badges of rank" (PDF). defence.gov.au. Department of Defence (Australia). Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 September 2006. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  3. "Navy, BAF chiefs' rank upgraded". Daily-sun.com. 17 January 2016. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  4. "Canada in the Second World War". Juno Beach Centre. 21 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  5. Stouffer, Ray (2008). "Air Chief Marshal Frank Miller – A Civilian and Military Leader". Canadian Military Journal. 10 (2). Archived from the original on 26 September 2010.
  6. Government of Canada, National Defence (25 September 2014). "News Article – RCAF receives new rank insignia". www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  7. "The RCAF". www.castlearchdale.net. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  8. "Arjan". Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
  9. ^ "Government Notice" (PDF). Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia. Vol. 4547. 20 August 2010. pp. 99–102. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  10. ^ Smaldone, Joseph P. (1992). "National Security". In Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Nigeria: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 296–297. LCCN 92009026. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  11. "PAF changes officers' rank insignia". The News. 6 July 2006. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  12. ^ "Commissioned Officers". airforce.lk. Sri Lanka Air Force. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  13. Andrew MacGregor Marshall: "Thai crown prince’s poodle, Air Chief Marshal Foo Foo, has been cremated" (Archived 7 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine). The Guardian, 5 February 2015
  14. Gordon Rayner: "WikiLeaks cables: Thailand's royal pet" (Archived 1 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine) The Daily Telegraph, 5 February 2011.
  15. Hobart, Malcolm C (2000). Badges and Uniforms of the Royal Air Force. Leo Cooper. p. 26. ISBN 0-85052-739-2.
  16. "H M Trenchard_P". www.rafweb.org. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
  17. "OFFICER'S RANKS". joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  18. "Rank Structure". gafonline.mil.gh. Ghana Air Force. 2018. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  19. "For Officers". careerairforce.nic.in. Indian Air Force. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  20. "RAF Ranks". raf.mod.uk/. Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  21. "RANKS AND BADGES IN THE AFZ". afz.gov.zw. Air Force of Zimbabwe. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2021.

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