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
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
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. The following officers were the first to be appointed to the rank, and their former service ranks are also shown:
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. 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 , 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. == Gallery ==