Air vice-marshal

{{short description|Two-star air-officer rank}} {{Use British English|date=June 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Globalize||Commonwealth of Nations|date=October 2023}} {{Military ranks | state=expanded}}

'''Air vice-marshal''' ('''Air Vce Mshl''' or '''AVM''') is an [[air officer]] rank used by some air forces, with origins from the [[Royal Air Force]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/structure/commissionedranks.cfm |title=Ranks and Badges of the Royal Air Force |access-date=26 November 2007 |year=2007 |publisher=[[Royal Air Force]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113155837/http://www.raf.mod.uk/structure/commissionedranks.cfm |archive-date=13 November 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The rank is also used by the air forces of many [[Commonwealth of Nations|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.

Air vice-marshal is usually equivalent to the naval rank of [[rear admiral]] or a rank of [[major general]] in an army. The rank of air vice-marshal is immediately senior to the rank of [[air commodore]] and immediately subordinate to the rank of [[air marshal]]. Since before the Second World War it has been common for [[air officers commanding]] RAF [[Group (air force)|groups]] to hold the rank of air vice-marshal. In small air forces such as the [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] and the [[Ghana Air Force]], the head of the air force holds the rank of air vice-marshal.

The equivalent rank in the [[Women's Auxiliary Air Force]], [[Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ozatwar.com/waaaf/waaaf.htm |title=Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) in Australia during WW2 |publisher=Oz at War |access-date=2 August 2014}}</ref> [[Women's Royal Air Force]] (until 1968) and [[Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service]] (until 1980) was "air chief commandant".

==Australia == The [[Australian Air Corps]] adopted the RAF rank system on 9 November 1920 and this usage was continued by its successor, the [[Royal Australian Air Force]]. However, the rank of air vice-marshal was not used by the Australian Armed Forces until 1935 when [[Richard Williams (RAAF officer)|Richard Williams]], the [[Chief of Air Force (Australia)|Australian Chief of the Air Staff]], was promoted. [[Margaret Staib]] of the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] served in the rank of air vice-marshal from 2009 to 2012 when she retired from the [[Australian Defence Force]].

==Canada== {{see also|Canadian Armed Forces ranks and insignia}} In 1920, Sir [[Willoughby Gwatkin]], the former [[Commander of the Canadian Army|Canadian Chief of the General Staff]], was granted the rank of air vice-marshal and appointed the inspector-general of the newly established [[Canadian Air Force]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=8178 |title=GWATKIN, Sir WILLOUGHBY GARNONS – Volume XV (1921–1930) |publisher=Dictionary of Canadian Biography |access-date=2 August 2014}}</ref> The rank was used until the 1968 [[Unification of the Canadian Armed Forces|unification of the Canadian Forces]], when army-type rank titles were adopted. Canadian air vice-marshals then became [[major-general]]s. In official [[Canadian French]] usage, the rank title was {{lang|fr|vice-maréchal de l'air}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.castlearchdale.net/id37.html |title=The RCAF |website=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>

==India== {{main|Air vice marshal (India)}}

== United Kingdom == {{see also|RAF officer ranks}} {{Infobox military rank | name = Air vice-marshal | image = United Kingdom-Air force-OF-7-collected.svg | image_size = 100px | caption = [[RAF officer ranks#Insignia|Shoulder and sleeve insignia]] | image2 = UK-Air-OF7-Flag.svg | image_size2 = 100px | caption2 = [[RAF officer ranks#Masthead distinguishing flags|Masthead distinguishing flag]] | image3 = RAF star plate OF-7.svg | image_size3 = 100px | caption3 = [[RAF officer ranks#Star plates|Motor car star plate]] | country = {{flag|United Kingdom}} | service branch = {{air force|United Kingdom}} | abbreviation = AVM / Air Vce Mshl | rank group = [[Officers of air rank]] | rank = [[Two-star rank]] | NATO rank = [[Ranks and insignia of NATO air forces officers|OF-7]] | formation = {{start date|1919|08|01|df=y}} | higher rank = [[Air marshal]] | lower rank = [[Air commodore]] | equivalents = {{unbulleted list |[[Rear admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear admiral]] ([[Royal Navy|RN]]) |{{nowrap|[[Major general (United Kingdom)|Major general]] ([[British Army]]; [[Royal Marines|RM]])}}}} }} ===Origins=== On 1 April 1918, the newly created RAF adopted its officer rank titles from the [[British 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 the [[Royal 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. The [[British Admiralty|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 [[Goidelic languages|Gaelic]] 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.<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 following officers were the first to be appointed to the rank, and their former service ranks are also shown:

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Officer ! Rank in RAF ! Rank in Army ! Rank in Navy |- | [[Edward Ashmore (British Army officer)|Edward Ashmore]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Ashmore.htm |title=Major-General E B Ashmore |access-date= 1 October 2009 |last=Barrass |first=Malcolm |date=3 November 2007 |work=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091002044011/http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Ashmore.htm| archive-date= 2 October 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> | Major general | Major general | None |- | [[Sefton Brancker|Sir Sefton Brancker]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Brancker.htm |title=Air Vice-Marshal Sir Sefton Brancker |access-date= 1 October 2009 |last=Barrass |first=Malcolm |date=16 June 2007 |work=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091006094228/http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Brancker.htm| archive-date= 6 October 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> | Major general | Major general | None |- | [[Edward Ellington]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Ellington.htm |title=Marshal of the RAF Sir Edward Ellington |access-date= 1 October 2009 |last=Barrass |first=Malcolm |date=16 June 2007 |work=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation }}</ref> | Major general | [[Brigadier general|Brigadier]] | None |- | [[John Frederick Andrews Higgins|John Higgins]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/HigginsJ.htm |title=Air Marshal Sir John Higgins |access-date= 1 October 2009 |last=Barrass |first=Malcolm |date=16 June 2007 |work=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation }}</ref> | Major general | Brigadier | None |- | [[Godfrey Paine|Sir Godfrey Paine]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Paine.htm |title=Rear Admiral (Air Vice-Marshal) Sir Godfrey Paine |access-date= 1 October 2009 |last=Barrass |first=Malcolm |date=29 July 2009 |work=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation }}</ref> | Major general | None | Rear admiral |- | [[Geoffrey Salmond|Sir Geoffrey Salmond]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/SalmondW.htm |title=Air Chief Marshal Sir Geoffrey Salmond |access-date= 1 October 2009 |last=Barrass |first=Malcolm |date=7 October 2007 |work=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation }}</ref> | Major general | Major general | None |- | [[John Salmond|Sir John Salmond]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/SalmondJ.htm |title=Marshal of the RAF Sir John Salmond |access-date= 1 October 2009 |last=Barrass |first=Malcolm |date=30 November 2008 |work=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091111210545/http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/SalmondJ.htm| archive-date= 11 November 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> | Major general | Major general | None |- | [[Frederick Sykes|Sir Frederick Sykes]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Sykes.htm |title=Air Vice-Marshal The Rt. Hon. Sir Frederick Sykes |access-date= 1 October 2009 |last=Barrass |first=Malcolm |date=17 June 2007 |work=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091028190538/http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Sykes.htm| archive-date= 28 October 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> | Major general | Major general | [[Captain (Royal Navy)|Wing captain]] |- | [[Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard|Sir Hugh Trenchard]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Trenchard.htm |title=Marshal of the RAF The Viscount Trenchard of Wolfeton |access-date= 1 October 2009 |last=Barrass |first=Malcolm |date=9 October 2007 |work=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation }}</ref> | Major general | Major general | None |}

===RAF insignia, command flag and star plate===

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 the [[flying 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.

<gallery> File:File-UK-Air-OF7-mess-insignia.svg|An RAF air vice-marshal's sleeve mess insignia File:British RAF Air Officer (ceremonial shoulder board).svg|An RAF air vice-marshal's shoulder board File:RAF-AVM-OF-7.png|An RAF air vice-marshal's sleeve on No. 1 service dress uniform RAF star plate OF-7.svg|An RAF air vice-marshal's star plate </gallery>

{{as of|2014|08|}}, air vice-marshal was the highest uniformed military rank currently held by a woman in the [[British Armed Forces]] when Air Vice-Marshal [[Elaine West]] was awarded the position in August 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23799187 |title=Woman RAF officer joins top military brass |publisher=BBC News |date=23 August 2013 |access-date=2 August 2014}}</ref>

== Gallery ==  <gallery class="center"> File:United Kingdom-AirForce-OF-7 Sleeve.svg|([[Royal Australian Air Force]])<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}}</ref> File:British RAF OF-7.svg|([[Bangladesh Air Force]])<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:14.Ghana Air Force-MG.svg|([[Ghana Air Force]])<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 |year=2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> File:United Kingdom-AirForce-OF-7 Sleeve.svg|([[Indian Air Force]])<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:14-Namibia Air Force-AVM.svg|([[Namibian Air Force]])<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}}</ref> File:Nigeria-AirForce-OF-7.svg|([[Nigerian Air Force]])<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}}</ref> File:Pak-air-force-OF-7.svg|([[Pakistan Air Force]]) File:United Kingdom-AirForce-OF-7 Sleeve.svg|([[Sri Lanka Air Force]])<ref>{{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}}</ref><br /> File:United Kingdom-AirForce-OF-7 Sleeve.svg|([[Royal Air Force]])<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}}</ref> File:TaT-Air Guard-OF-7.png|([[Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard]])<ref name="Trinidad&Tobago_Officer">{{cite web |title=Rank Chart (Commissioned Officers) |url=http://69.0.195.188/HQ/Our-Organisation/Ranks-Chart-(Commissioned-Officers).aspx |website=69.0.195.188 |publisher=Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force |access-date=27 May 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> File:Canadian_RCAF_Mess_Dress_Of-07.png|([[Air Force of Zimbabwe]])<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>

== See also == {{stack|{{Portal|United Kingdom|Aviation}}}} * [[Air force officer rank insignia]] * [[Air vice marshal (Australia)]] * [[British and US military ranks compared]] * [[Comparative military ranks]] * [[RAF officer ranks]] * [[Ranks of the RAAF]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

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[[Category:Military ranks of the Commonwealth]] [[Category:Military ranks of Australia]] [[Category:Former military ranks of Canada]] [[Category:Military ranks of the Royal Air Force]] [[Category:Pakistan Air Force ranks]] [[Category:Military ranks of Bangladesh]] [[Category:Military ranks of Sri Lanka]] [[Category:Air force ranks]] [[Category:Vice military offices]] [[Category:1919 introductions]]