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Marshal of the Royal Air Force (MRAF) is the highest rank in the Royal Air Force. 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, 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 government.

Marshal of the Royal Air Force is a 5 star rank 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.

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

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 and the highest RAF rank was titled Marshal of the Air. However, only a few days after it was promulgated and at the request of King George V, the rank title was changed to Marshal of the Royal Air Force.

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 casual uniform.

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 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

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

• HM King George V
• Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard (1 January 1927)
• Sir John Salmond (1 January 1933)
• HM King Edward VIII (21 January 1936)
• HM King George VI (11 December 1936) [1]
• Sir Edward Ellington (1 January 1937)
• Cyril Newall, 1st Baron Newall (4 October 1940)
• Charles Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford (1 June 1944)
• Arthur Tedder, 1st Baron Tedder (12 September 1945)
• William Sholto Douglas, 1st Baron Douglas of Kirtleside (1 January 1946)
• Sir Arthur Harris (1 January 1946)
• Sir John Slessor (8 June 1950)
• HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (15 January 1953)
• Sir William Dickson (1 June 1954)
• Sir Dermot Boyle (1 January 1958)
• HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (12 June 1958)

• Sir Thomas Pike (6 April 1962)
• Samuel Charles Elworthy, Baron Elworthy of Timaru (1 April 1967)
• Sir John Grandy (1 April 1971)
• Sir Denis Spotswood (31 March 1974)
• Sir Andrew Humphrey (6 August 1976)
• Neil Cameron, Baron Cameron of Balhousie (31 July 1977)
• Sir Michael Beetham (14 October 1982)
• Sir Keith Williamson (15 October 1985)
• David Craig, Baron Craig of Radley (14 November 1988)
• Sir Peter Harding (6 November 1992)

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

	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:		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:	OCdt		2Lt	Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig	Maj Gen	Lt Gen	Gen	FM
Royal Air Force:	OC / SO		APO / Plt Off	Fg Off	Flt Lt	Sqn Ldr	Wg Cdr	Gp Capt	Air Cdre	AVM	Air Mshl	Air Chf Mshl	MRAF