RAF officer ranks

The officer ranks of the Royal Air Force, as they are today, were introduced in 1919. Prior to that Army ranks were used.

Ranks

Notes
  1. Marshal of the Royal Air Force has become an honorary/posthumous rank, war time rank; ceremonial rank.

Origins

Lieutenant General David Henderson originally proposed that Royal Air Force officers use a combination of British Army and Royal Navy ranks. However, the War Office argued that the RAF should have its own ranks and the Admiralty opposed any use of their rank titles.[2]

Badges of rank

On 1 April 1918, Air Force Memorandum 2 specified rank insignia for the newly established independent force. Rank was to be worn on the jacket cuff and was derived from the Royal Navy's rings, each equivalent rank having the same number of rings. However, second lieutenants (now pilot officers) displayed a crowned eagle only and the Navy's loop was not used for any rank.[3] Depending on the uniform, either gold or pale blue on grey braid was worn.

In August 1918, Air Ministry Weekly Order 617 added a single band of 1⁄4-inch (6 mm) braid below the second lieutenant's eagle and all other officer ranks also received a crowned eagle above their braid on the left arm only.

RAF mess dress cuff insignia for a flight lieutenant

In 1919 the colour of the rank braid was changed to black with a central pale blue stripe. However, on RAF mess dress rank continued to be displayed in gold.

Sleeve ranks

The ranks worn on the sleeve are common to all RAF uniform variants incorporating the Jacket. The centre of the rank (measured from the bottom of the lowest braid to the top of the highest) should be 3+3⁄4 inches (9.5 cm) from the cuff and each row of braiding should have a space of 1⁄8 inch (3 mm) from other rows. The thinnest braid, as found on the pilot officer's rank (and in the middle of the squadron leader's rank), is 1⁄4 inch (6 mm); the flying officer's braid common to all the ranks except air commodore and pilot officer, is 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm), and the thickest braid, as found on all air officer ranks, is 2 inches (5.1 cm).

Shoulder boards
Air officers' ceremonial shoulder board
Shoulder board of marshal of the RAF

Shoulder boards (as shown) are worn by officers of general rank equivalent (air commodore and above). Officers entitled to wear aiguillettes or the Royal Cypher, AVMs and above, the Director of Nursing Services, and those officers assigned to certain one-star posts, wear plain blue shoulder boards when in No 1 Service Dress. AVMs and above and those officers assigned to the one-star posts of commandant RAFC Cranwell, Air Officer Wales and Air Officer Scotland wear distinctive unranked ceremonial shoulder boards when in No 1A (ceremonial day) dress. If these officers wear a greatcoat, gold ranked shoulder straps in Crombie material are used.[4] Officers of the rank of marshal of the Royal Air Force have a distinctive set of shoulder boards with greater decoration.

Rank titles

It was initially proposed that each RAF officer rank would be either the equivalent army rank (used by the Royal Flying Corps) or the naval rank (used by the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS)). However, when the Royal Navy and British Army were consulted they made differing objections: the navy was unhappy that another service might use the names of its higher ranks, such as admiral, and the army objected to the RAF sharing the ranks assigned to junior officers. This resulted in a second proposed system, which made frequent use of the neologism ardian, which was derived from the Gaelic ard "chief" and eun "bird". Under this proposal the names were to have been: ensign, lieutenant, flight leader, squadron leader, reeve, banneret, fourth ardian, third ardian, second ardian, ardian and air marshal. A further proposal was: ensign, lieutenant, flight-leader, squadron-leader, wing-leader, leader, flight ardian, squadron ardian, wing ardian, ardian, air marshal. However, this system was rejected within the RAF, due in part to dislike of the neologism ardian.

On 1 August 1919, Air Ministry Weekly Order 973 introduced the official rank titles for RAF officers. Initially, the highest air officer rank was named marshal of the air. However, a few days after this was promulgated, it was changed to marshal of the Royal Air Force; this occurred reputedly at the request of King George V, who believed that the original name implied the powers of a deity. These were often modified versions of Royal Navy terms and in many cases represented a continuation of particular RNAS appointment titles, i.e. a role/command specific to a particular rank. For example, the new RAF rank of flight lieutenant had previously been the name of an RNAS appointment, held only by qualified pilots with the naval rank of lieutenant; a RNAS observer with the same rank was instead known as an observer lieutenant. The RAF rank of squadron leader was derived from an RNAS appointment, squadron commander, which had been held by either a naval lieutenant-commander or lieutenant.

Composite braid
Composite braid as worn by a squadron leader

RAF officers typically wear composite braid rank slides with their working and operational uniforms. Composite braid consists of a single piece of fabric, where the "background" between the rank rings is made from blue-grey or olive green material. Composite braid rank slides are often referred to as "bar-code" in RAF slang.

Command flags

MRAF
Air Chf Mshl
Air Mshl
AVM
Air Cdre
Gp Capt
Wg Cdr
Sqn Ldr

Distinction between ranks and appointments

Many RAF ranks do not imply the appointment or duties of an officer. For example, a pilot officer may well not be trained to pilot an aircraft. In fact, pilots skip the rank of pilot officer and go from officer cadet to flying officer on graduation from officer training school at RAF Cranwell. A squadron leader does not necessarily command a squadron, nor a wing commander necessarily command a wing, nor a group captain command a group.

A group will usually be commanded by an AVM. 'Flying' wings will be commanded by a group captain, with ground-based wings commanded by a wing commander. 'Flying' squadrons are commanded by wing commanders, and ground-based squadrons are typically commanded by squadron leaders.

RAF Air Cadets (Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force)
Main article: Ranks of the cadet forces of the United Kingdom § Officers

The majority of officers in the Air Cadet Organisation (the Air Training Corps and the RAF section of the Combined Cadet Force) are volunteers commissioned into RAF Air Cadets and then appointed to service with the Air Training Corps or Combined Cadet Force (RAF). They are no longer Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch) (RAFVR(T)) commissioned officers. They are identified by the gold badge stating: "RAFAC" on the lapels of the No. 1 uniform, and in others forms of dress "RAF Air Cadets" embroidered underneath the rank insignia, in a manner similar to RAF Regiment rank slides. Volunteer officers who are members of an air experience flight (AEF) and who are pilots of aircraft providing air experience flying to air cadets and university air squadrons (UAS) continue to hold a VR(UAS) commission.

RAF Air Cadets officers use the rank system identical to the regular RAF, but the highest substantive rank is flying officer. Higher ranks within the Air Cadet organisation are acting appointments, up to wing commander. Other senior ranked appointments are generally full-time staff positions (such as regional commandants and commandant air cadets) held by regular and reserve (RAFR/FTRS) RAF officers. In certain circumstances, honorary appointments within the RAF Air Cadets may be made, however the rank may vary. After the Death of Queen Elizabeth II, new rank insignia with King Charles III's Royal Cypher is expected to be created.

Timeline of changes
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Royal Flying Corps
(1912–April 1918)		 Lieutenant-General Major-General Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant-Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second Lieutenant
Lieutenant-General Major-General Brigadier-General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant 2nd lieutenant Cadet
Royal Naval Air Service
(1914–April 1918)
Squadron Commander
(less than 8 years seniority)		 Flight Commander Flight Lieutenant
Wing Captain Wing Commander Squadron Commander
(more than 8 years seniority)		 Flight Sub-Lieutenant
April 1918 - August 1918
General Lieutenant-General Major-General Brigadier-General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant 2nd lieutenant
August 1918 - 1919
General Lieutenant-General Major-General Brigadier-General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant 2nd lieutenant
1919–1952
Marshal of the RAF Air chief marshal Air marshal Air vice-marshal Air commodore Group captain Wing commander Squadron leader Flight lieutenant Flying officer Pilot officer
/acting pilot officer		 Officer cadet
Royal Observer Corps
(1925–1996)
Air commodore Observer captain Observer commander Observer lieutenant commander Observer lieutenant Observer officer
1952–2022
Marshal of the RAF Air chief marshal Air marshal Air vice-marshal Air commodore Group captain Wing commander Squadron leader Flight lieutenant Flying officer Pilot officer
/acting pilot officer		 Officer cadet
2022–Currently
Marshal of the RAF Air chief marshal Air marshal Air vice-marshal Air commodore Group captain Wing commander Squadron leader Flight lieutenant Flying officer Pilot officer
/acting pilot officer		 Officer cadet
NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D)Student officer

Other air forces
Comparative military ranks
Armies,
air forces
(non-Commonwealth),
space forces		 Navies,
coast guard		 Air forces
(Commonwealth system)
Flag commissioned officers
Field marshal or
general of the army or
general of the air force		 Admiral of
the fleet or
grand admiral		 Marshal of the air force
General or
colonel general or
army general		 Admiral or
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 commissioned officers
Colonel Captain Group captain
Lieutenant colonel Commander Wing commander
Major or
commandant		 Lieutenant
commander		 Squadron leader
Junior commissioned officers
Captain Lieutenant Flight lieutenant
Lieutenant or
first lieutenant		 Lieutenant
junior grade or
sub-lieutenant		 Flying officer
Second lieutenant or
junior lieutenant		 Ensign or
midshipman		 Pilot officer
Officer cadet Officer cadet Flight cadet
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 or
specialist		 Leading seaman Corporal or leading aircraftman
Private or
gunner or
trooper or
sapper		 Seaman Aircraftman or
airman or
aviator

The following air forces use a similar or identical officer rank structure and rank insignia to the RAF:

The following air forces use a similar or identical officer rank structure to the RAF, but use army-style rank insignia:

General Merrill McPeak, USAF, wearing the short-lived USAF silver sleeve braid rank insignia, similar in concept but not colour to the RAF officer ranks

The following air forces use rank insignia for their officers which are similar or identical to that of the RAF, but employ army rank titles:

The following air forces formerly used a similar or identical officer rank structure to the RAF:

The following air forces formerly used similar rank insignia to the RAF:

See also

Notes
  1. Although the USAF discontinued the RAF-pattern rank insignia introduced by General Merrill McPeak in 1994, U.S. Air Force Academy, college & university Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, and Air Force Officer Training School officer cadets use identical insignia today.

References
  1. "RAF Ranks". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. n.d. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  2. Hering, Peter George (1961). Customs and traditions of the Royal Air Force. Aldershot: Gale and Polden Ltd. pp. 21, 22. OCLC 462209238.
  3. "Commissioned Ranks of the Royal Air Force April 1918 - Aug 1919 Initial Uniform Design". Air of Authority. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  4. "RAF AP 1358, CHAP 7 - DISTINGUISHING INSIGNIA" (PDF). MOD. 2 August 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  5. "Royal Australian Air Force / Royal Australian Air Force". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  6. "Royal New Zealand Air Force /". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  7. "Hellenic Air Force / Πολεμική Αεροπορία - Polemikí Aeroporía". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  8. "The Nigerian Air Force Service, Colours, Wings and Rank Structure". Nigerianairforce.net. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  9. "Indian Air Force / भारतीय वायु सेना / Bhartiya Vāyu Sen&#257". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  10. "Bangladesh Air Force / বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী - Bangladesh Biman Bahini". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  11. "Sri Lanka Air Force /". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  12. "Ghana Air Force /". Uniforminsignia.org. 16 December 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  13. "Air Force of Zimbabwe / Air Force of Zimbabwe". Uniforminsignia.org. 4 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  14. "Royal Thai Air Force / กองทัพอากาศไทย - Kong Thab Akat Thai". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  15. "Chilean Air Force / Fuerza Aérea de Chile". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  16. "Pakistan Air Force - PAF / پاک فضائیہ - Pak Fiza´ya". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  17. "Egyptian Air Force / القوات الجوية المصري&#1577". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  18. "Afghan National Air Corps /". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  19. "Argentine Air Force / Fuerza Aérea Argentina". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  20. "Belgian Air Component / Luchtcomponent-Composante". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  21. "Eritrean Air Force /". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  22. "Finnish Air Force / Suomen ilmavoimat / Finska flygvapnet". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  23. "The Facts 2006-2007" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2007.
  24. "Royal Malaysian Air Force / Tentera Udara DiRaja Malaysia". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  25. "Peruvian Air Force / Fuerza Aérea del Perú". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  26. "Royal Netherlands Air Force / Koninklijke Luchtmacht". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  27. "Royal Danish Air Force / Flyvevåbnet". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  28. "Air Force / Aeronautica Militare". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  29. "Romanian Air Force / Forţele Aeriene Române". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  30. "Romanian Air Force / Forţele Aeriene Române". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  31. "South African Air Force /". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  32. "Royal Canadian Air Force". Uniforminsignia.org. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  33. "Irish Air Corps / Aer Chór na hÉireann". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  34. "Uruguayan Air Force / Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  35. "Canadian Air Force / Canadian Forces Air Command - AIRCOM". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  36. "Royal Rhodesian Air Force /". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  37. "Republic of Singapore Air Force / 新加坡空军部队 - Angkatan Udara Republik Singapura - சிங்கப்பூர் ஆகாயப்பட&#3016". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  38. "U.S. Air Force / United States Air Force". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  39. "Pakistan Air Force - PAF / پاک فضائیہ - Pak Fiza´ya". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  40. "Royal Air Force of Oman / al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat Oman". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  41. "Air Force /". Uniforminsignia.org. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  42. "Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo / Force Aérienne du Congo". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  43. "Air Force /". Uniforminsignia.org. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  44. "Air Force / Force Aérienne". Uniforminsignia.org. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.

General references
  • Hobart, Malcolm. Badges and Uniforms of the Royal Air Force. London/Barnsley, England: Leo Cooper/Pen & Sword Books Ltd., 2000. ISBN 0-85052-739-2.
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