 | The examples and perspective in thisdeal primarily with Commonwealth of Nations and do not represent aworldwide view of the subject. You mayimprove this, discuss the issue on thetalk page, or create a new, as appropriate.(October 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Air vice-marshal (Air Vce Mshl orAVM) is anair officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from theRoyal Air Force.[1] The rank is also used by the air forces of manycountries 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.
Air vice-marshal is usually equivalent to the naval rank ofrear admiral or a rank ofmajor general in an army. The rank of air vice-marshal is immediately senior to the rank ofair commodore and immediately subordinate to the rank ofair marshal. Since before the Second World War it has been common forair officers commanding RAFgroups to hold the rank of air vice-marshal. In small air forces such as theRoyal New Zealand Air Force and theGhana Air Force, the head of the air force holds the rank of air vice-marshal.
The equivalent rank in theWomen's Auxiliary Air Force,Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force,[2]Women's Royal Air Force (until 1968) andPrincess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (until 1980) was "air chief commandant".
TheAustralian Air Corps adopted the RAF rank system on 9 November 1920 and this usage was continued by its successor, theRoyal Australian Air Force. However, the rank of air vice-marshal was not used by the Australian Armed Forces until 1935 whenRichard Williams, theAustralian Chief of the Air Staff, was promoted.Margaret Staib of theRoyal Australian Air Force served in the rank of air vice-marshal from 2009 to 2012 when she retired from theAustralian Defence Force.
In 1920, SirWilloughby Gwatkin, the formerCanadian Chief of the General Staff, was granted the rank of air vice-marshal and appointed the inspector-general of the newly establishedCanadian Air Force.[3] The rank was used until the 1968unification of the Canadian Forces, when army-type rank titles were adopted. Canadian air vice-marshals then becamemajor-generals. In officialCanadian French usage, the rank title wasvice-maréchal de l'air.[4]
| Air vice-marshal | |
|---|---|
 Command flag | |
 Shoulder and sleeve insignia | |
 An RAF air vice-marshal star plate | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Service branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Abbreviation | AVM / Air Vce Mshl |
| Rank | Two-star |
| NATOrank code | OF-7 |
| Non-NATO rank | O-8 |
| Formation | 1 August 1919 (1919-08-01) |
| Next higher rank | Air marshal |
| Next lower rank | Air commodore |
| Equivalent ranks | |
On 1 April 1918, the newly created RAF adopted its officer rank titles from theBritish Army, with officers at what is now air vice-marshal level holding the rank of major general. In response to the proposal that the RAF should use its own rank titles, it was suggested that the RAF might use theRoyal Navy's officer ranks, with the word "air" inserted before the naval rank title. For example, the rank that later became air vice-marshal would have been air rear admiral. TheAdmiralty 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 theGaelic words for "chief" (ard) and "bird" (eun), with the term "third ardian" or "squadron ardian" being used for the equivalent to rear admiral and major general. However, air vice-marshal was preferred and was adopted in August 1919.[5] The following officers were the first to be appointed to the rank, and their former service ranks are also shown:
| Officer | Rank in RAF | Rank in Army | Rank in Navy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edward Ashmore[6] | Major general | Major general | None |
| Sir Sefton Brancker[7] | Major general | Major general | None |
| Edward Ellington[8] | Major general | Brigadier | None |
| John Higgins[9] | Major general | Brigadier | None |
| Sir Godfrey Paine[10] | Major general | None | Rear admiral |
| Sir Geoffrey Salmond[11] | Major general | Major general | None |
| Sir John Salmond[12] | Major general | Major general | None |
| Sir Frederick Sykes[13] | Major general | Major general | Wing captain |
| Sir Hugh Trenchard[14] | Major general | Major general | None |
The rank insignia consists of a narrow light blue band (on a slightly wider black band) over a light blue band on a broad black band. This is worn on both the lower sleeves of the dress uniform or on the shoulders of theflying suit or working uniform.
The command flag of an air vice-marshal has two narrow red bands running through the centre.
The vehicle star plate for an air vice-marshal depicts two white stars (air vice-marshal is a two-star rank) on an air force blue background.
.svg)
As of August 2014[update], air vice-marshal was the highest uniformed military rank currently held by a woman in theBritish Armed Forces when Air Vice-MarshalElaine West was awarded the position in August 2013.[15]
![(Royal Australian Air Force)[16]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aUnited_Kingdom-AirForce-OF-7_Sleeve.svg)
![(Bangladesh Air Force)[17]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aBritish_RAF_OF-7.svg)
![(Ghana Air Force)[18]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3a14.Ghana_Air_Force-MG.svg)
![(Namibian Air Force)[20]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3a14-Namibia_Air_Force-AVM.svg)
![(Nigerian Air Force)[21]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aNigeria-AirForce-OF-7.svg)
![(Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard)[24]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aTaT-Air_Guard-OF-7.png)
![(Air Force of Zimbabwe)[25]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aCanadian_RCAF_Mess_Dress_Of-07.png)
| By star ranks | |
|---|---|
| By titles |
|
...
