Philippa Marshall

Air Commodore Philippa Frances Marshall CB OBE (4 November 1920 – 4 February 2005) was a British Royal Air Force officer, who served as Director of the Women's Royal Air Force from 1969 to 1973.

Philippa Marshall
Birth namePhilippa Frances Marshall
Born(1920-11-04)4 November 1920
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
Died4 February 2005(2005-02-04) (aged 84)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Air Force
Years of service1941–1973
RankAir commodore
Service number4937
Battles/warsSecond World War

Biography

Marshall was born on 4 November 1920 in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. She was educated at St Dominic's High School for Girls, an all-girls private school in Stoke-on-Trent.[1]

In 1941, Marshall joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF).[1] On 10 June 1942, she was commissioned as an assistant section officer (equivalent in rank to pilot officer) on probation.[2] With the creation of the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) in 1949, she was transferred into the WRAF as a flight officer (equivalent to flight lieutenant) on 1 February 1949 with seniority in that rank from 10 December 1946.[3]

She was promoted to squadron officer (equivalent to squadron leader) on 1 July 1953,[4] to wing officer (equivalent to wing commander) on 1 January 1964,[5] and to group officer (equivalent to group captain) on 1 July 1966.[6] From 1968 to 1969, she served as commanding admin officer at RAF Strike Command.[1] In 1969, she was appointed Director of the Women's Royal Air Force in succession to Dame Felicity Hill.[1] On 1 July 1969, she was promoted to air commodore, hereby becoming the most senior ranking woman in the Royal Air Force.[7] She stepped down as director in July 1973 to be succeeded by Molly Allott,[8] and retired on 1 September 1973.[9]

Marshall died on 4 February 2005, aged 84.[1]

Honours

In the 1956 New Year Honours, Marshall was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).[10] In the 1971, she was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).[11]

References
  1. "Marshall, Air Cdre Philippa Frances". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U26753.
  2. "No. 35615". The London Gazette. 30 June 1942. p. 2889.
  3. "No. 38661". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 July 1949. p. 3391.
  4. "No. 39900". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 June 1953. p. 3609.
  5. "No. 43210". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1963. p. 79.
  6. "No. 44039". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 June 1966. p. 7467.
  7. "No. 44885". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 July 1969. p. 6791.
  8. "No. 46034". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 July 1973. p. 8673.
  9. "No. 46073". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 September 1973. p. 10818.
  10. "No. 40669". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1955. p. 9.
  11. "No. 45384". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1971. pp. 5958–59.
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