Air marshal (Air Mshl or AM) is a three-star^[1] air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force.^[2] The rank is also used by the air forces of many 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.

Officers in the rank of air marshal typically hold very senior appointments such as commander-in-chief of an air force or a large air force formation. Officers in the ranks of air chief marshal and air vice-marshal are also referred to generically as air marshals. Occasionally, air force officers of marshal rank are considered to be air marshals.

Seniority[link]

Air marshal is a three-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-8, equivalent to a vice-admiral in the Royal Navy or a lieutenant-general in the British Army or the Royal Marines.

The rank of air marshal is immediately senior to the rank of air vice-marshal and immediately subordinate to the rank of air chief marshal.

Origins[link]

Prior to the adoption of RAF-specific rank titles in 1919, 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 marshal would have been air vice-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 "second ardian" or "wing ardian" being used specifically for the rank equivalent to a vice-admiral and lieutenant-general. However, air marshal was preferred and was adopted on 1 August 1919. The rank of air marshal was first used on 11 August 1919 when Sir Hugh Trenchard was promoted to the rank^[3] and it has been used ever since.

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 marshal was not used by the Australian Armed Forces until 1940 when Richard Williams, an RAAF officer, was promoted.^[4]

RAF insignia, command flag and star plate[link]

The rank insignia consists of two 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 lower sleeves of the dress uniform or on the shoulders of the flying suit or working uniform.

The command flag for an air marshal is defined by the single broad red band running in the centre of the flag.

The vehicle star plate for an air marshal depicts three white stars (air marshal is equivalent to a three-star rank) on an air force blue background.

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  An RAF air marshal's sleeve/shoulder insignia

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  An RAF air marshal's mess sleeve insignia

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  An RAF air marshal's shoulder board

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  An RAF air marshal's sleeve on No. 1 Service Dress Uniform

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  An RAF air marshal's command flag

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  An RAF air marshal's star plate

Other air forces[link]

The rank of air marshal is also used in a number of the air forces in the Commonwealth, including the Bangladesh Air Force, Indian Air Force, Pakistan Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force. It is also used in the Egyptian Air Force, Nigerian Air Force, Ghana Air Force, Hellenic Air Force (Antipterarchos), Air Force of Zimbabwe (including its predecessor, the Rhodesian Air Force) and the Royal Thai Air Force. In the Indonesian Air Force, the equivalent rank is marsekal madya (literally "vice marshal") which is often translated as air marshal in English.

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  An RAAF air marshal's sleeve/shoulder insignia

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  A Royal Thai Air Force air marshal's rank insignia

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  A Hellenic Air Force air marshal's rank insignia

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  An Indian Air Force air marshal's shoulder patch

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  A PAF air marshal's shoulder patch.

Royal Australian Air Force[link]

In Australia, there are four appointments available for air marshals: the Chief of Air Force and, at times when they are occupied by an air force officer, the Vice Chief of Defence Force, the Chief of Joint Operations, and the Chief of Capability Development Group.

Royal New Zealand Air Force[link]

In New Zealand, the head of the air force holds the lower rank of air vice-marshal. However, when an air force officer holds the country's senior military appointment, Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force, he is granted the rank of air marshal. The last air force Chief of the Defence Force was Air Marshal Sir Bruce Ferguson who served in that appointment from 2001 to 2006. The full list of New Zealand air marshals is as follows:

• Sir Richard Bolt
• Sir Ewan Jamieson
• David Crooks
• Carey Adamson
• Sir Bruce Ferguson

Royal Canadian Air Force[link]

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) used the rank until the 1968 unification of the Canadian Forces, when army-type rank titles were adopted and an air marshal became a lieutenant-general. In official French Canadian usage, the rank title was maréchal de l'air. The Canadian Chief of the Air Staff ordinarily held the rank of air marshal. The following RCAF offers held the rank (dates in rank in parentheses):

• Billy Bishop (1938 to 1944), rank retained on retirement
• George Croil (c. 1940 to 1944), rank retained on retirement
• Lloyd Samuel Breadner (1941 to 1945), subsequently promoted to air chief marshal
• Robert Leckie (1944 to 1947), rank retained on retirement
• George Owen Johnson (to 1947), rank retained on retirement
• Wilfred Curtis (c. 1947 to 1953), rank retained on retirement
• Roy Slemon (c. 1953 to 1964), rank retained on retirement
• Frank Robert Miller (1955 to 1961), subsequently promoted to air chief marshal
• Hugh Campbell (to 1962), rank retained on retirement
• Clarence Dunlap (to 1968), rank retained on retirement
• William Ross MacBrien (to 1968), rank retained on retirement
• Edwin Reyno (1966 to 1968), later regraded to Lieutenant-General

Marshal ranks in Brazil and Malaysia[link]

The Brazilian Air Force does not use air marshal ranks as an equivalent to general ranks, rather it uses a number of ranks based on the word brigadier. However, its highest rank is Marechal-do-ar, the equivalent to a Brazilian Army marshal. Marechal-do-ar can be translated as air marshal or marshal of the air.

Similarly, the Royal Malaysian Air Force's five-star rank of marshal udara translates as air marshal.

See also[link]

Look up Air Marshal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Air marshals

• Comparative military ranks

References[link]

Air Marshal Malik Noor Khan
LGen (AM) Nur Khan, 1923–2011.
8th Governor of West Pakistan
In office 1 September 1969 – 1 February 1970
President	General Yahya Khan
Prime Minister	Noorul Amin
Vice President	Noorul Amin
Vice PM	Noorul Amin
Preceded by	LGen Tikka Khan
Succeeded by	LGen Attikur Rahmann
6th Air Force Commander-in-Chief
In office July 23, 1965 – August 31, 1969
Succeeded by	Air Marshal Rahim Khan
Preceded by	Air Marshal Asghar Khan
Personal details
Born	Malick Noor Khan (1923-02-02)2 February 1923 Chakwal, British Punjab, British Indian Empire (now Pakistan)
Died	15 December 2011(2011-12-15) (aged 88)[1][2] Rawalpindi, Pakistan[3]
Citizenship	British Indian Empire  Pakistan
Nationality	British Subject (1923–1947) Pakistani (1947–2011)
Political party	None (Military Governorship)
Residence	Air Headquarter (AHQ), Rawalpindi
Alma mater	Indian Military Academy
Occupation	Military administrator
Cabinet	General Yahya Khan Administration
Religion	Islam
Military service
Nickname(s)	General Khan
Allegiance	British Indian Empire  Pakistan (1947–1971)
Service/branch	Royal Indian Air Force  Pakistan Air Force
Years of service	1941–1971
Rank	Air Marshal (Lieutenant-General)
Unit	No. 11 Squadron Arrows
Commands	Chaklala Air Base Pakistan Air Force Academy Assistant Chief (Air Operations) Peshawar Air Base Masroor Air Base No.1 Tactical Operations Group Pakistan International Airlines Commander-in-Chief Pakistan Air Force
Battles/wars	World war II (Burmese air operations) Indo-Pakistan war of 1947 Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 Indo-Pakistan war of 1971
Awards	Hilal-e-Jurat Hilal-e-Shujaat Hilal-e-Quaid-i-Azam Sitara-e-Pakistan
Administrator	President Pakistan Hockey Federation President Pakistan Cricket Board

Air Marshal Nur Khan (Urdu: نور خان , born Malik Nur Khan (Urdu: ملک نور خان ; ‎ February 22, 1923 – December 15, 2011) HS, HQA, SPk HJ, was a high-profile military official who represented the Pakistan Air Force as its Air Commander-in-Chief ^[4] in the ruling military governments of Field Marshal Ayub Khan and General Yahya Khan from 1965 till 1971. Nur Khan was a hero of the 1965 air war as the air force general who led a smaller but better trained and equipped Pakistan Air Force to achieve parity over the Indian Air Force (which was three times the PAF's strength in numbers) from the very first day of the 1965 war. Nur Khan was widely respected, not only for his integrity but also for his sharp intelligence and outstanding management abilities that largely benefited the Pakistan's military.^[2]

Following his retirement from the PAF, Nur Khan was appointed by the military government as the Governor of West Pakistan in 1969 ^[2] but soon resigned after mounting serious disagreements with the military government in 1970, and was finally forced out of the military government by President General Yahya Khan in 1971. In 1976, he joined hands with then-Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who appointed him as President of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF); and in 1980, he became Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after General Zia-ul-Haq requested him to take control of the country's cricket administator. He presided over both the Hockey Federation and Cricket Board until 1984, leading the Pakistani hockey team to a gold medal in the Los Angeles Olympics.^[1][5] In 1985, Nur Khan participated in 1985 parliamentary elections for a technocratic seat and also contested on Pakistan Peoples Party's platform on 1988 parliamentary elections but conceded his defeat that eventually led to end his short political-technocratic career once and for all.^[6]

Biography[link]

Career with Royal Air Force[link]

Khan was born on February 22, 1923, in a small village (called "Dandi") in the Tamman range of Talagang District of Punjab British state, British Indian Empire.^[2] Nur Khan belonged to an Awan family and completed his early education from Lahore where he graduated from the renowned private high school, Aitchison High School. After graduating from high-school, Nur Khan was sent to attend Aitchison College and graduated with a science diploma. Soon after, he applied for the Royal Indian Military and attended the Rashtriya Indian Military College at Dehra Dun where he gained a B.A. in Military administration. On January 6 of 1941, Nur Khan was commissioned into the Royal Indian Air Force in No. 1 Squadron ^[7] where he was sent to participate in the Burma Campaign 1942 where he flew bombing and combat air missions. In 1946, Nur Khan was elevated to a role as the Flight Commander of No. 4 Squadron of the RIAF which he commanded until 1947. ^[2]

In 1947, after the establishment of Pakistan, Nur Khan opted for Pakistan's citizenship and was transferred to the newly formed Pakistan Air Force. Between 1950-62, Nur Khan commanded the newly formed Pakistan Air Force Academy and then held various key appointments including command of Chaklala, Peshawar and Mauripur stations and, as an air commodore, of No. 1 Group at Peshawar. He also did a stint at the Air Headquarters as the Assistant Chief of Staff Air (in charge of all air operations).

Emergence with Pakistan Air Force[link]

In 1959, following a series of mishaps in the country’s airlines, Air Marshal Nur Khan was deputed to head the amalgamated Pakistan Airlines Corporation where he remained till taking over from Air Marshal Asghar Khan in July 65. During that period, he made a name for his airline as a safe and reliable organization, and for himself as a forward-thinking dynamic go-getter. It was not surprising therefore that he was named as Air Marshal Asghar Khan’s successor; he was then 42 years old.

Nur Khan was also part of the Pakistani contingent that clashed with the Israeli Air Force during the Six Day War. In fact, the President of Israel, Ezer Weizman, who was also the Commander of the Israeli Air Force and the Minister of Defense of Israel, wrote in his autobiography that: "He was a formidable fellow and I was glad that he was Pakistani and not Egyptian".^[6][8]

Nur Khan was an Air Marshal of Pakistan Air Force, Governor of West Pakistan and the Chairman of Pakistan International Airlines.

Career as Civilian Airline Administrator[link]

In 1960, PIA's very first jetliner (a Boeing 707-321 leased from Pan Am) takes a gentle turn under the command of Malik Nur Khan. Nur Khan was PIA's Managing Director from 1959 to 1965.^[2] His success in establishing PIA on a firm and profitable financial basis in six years is now a fact of airline history. Under his charismatic and inspirational leadership, PIA became one of the leading and respected airlines of the world. During his tenure, PIA became the first Asian airline to operate jet aircraft. The airline inducted modern Boeing 720 B jet in its fleet. PIA started flying to China and flights to Europe via Moscow were also launched during this period. In 1973, Nur Khan was specially requested by the government of Pakistan to resume control of PIA. During his second term as airline's head, PIA became operator of wide-body DC-10s and Boeing 747s. Popular Green & Gold aircraft livery was introduced, plus many more achievements were made by the airline under Nur Khan's leadership. He kept PIA out of Pakistan's turbulent political arena and returned it to a sound commercial basis. Nur Khan was a dynamic leader and believed in innovation and new ideas

Role in Founding Pakistan Hockey Federation[link]

Always a sports enthusiast as well as an able sports administrator, he was the founder of the annual Champions Trophy in field hockey and helped organise the 1987 Cricket World Cup in India & Pakistan as PCB head.^[5] Nur Khan was also a member of the National Assembly from 1985 till 1988. He also contested in the 1988 elections on a PP ticket from NA 44 Chakwal II but was not successful. After defeat in the 1988 elections he decided to retire from politics and his cousins Malik Mumtaz Khan Tamman and Malik Allah Dad Awan began contesting from same constituency.^[6]

Legacy[link]

Nur Khan was the Pakistan Air Force Commander-in-Chief from 23 July 1965 to 31 July 1969^[9]. Nur Khan was appointed Governor of West Pakistan in August 1969.

Nur Khan's family hails from a small village called Dandi, Tamman, Talagang.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Air Marshal (Retd.) Nur Khan (22nd Feb, 1923 – 15th Dec 2011)
• Bio of Air Marshal Nur Khan
• [2] A picture of Nur Khan in front of a T-37 (www.Flickr.com)
• [3] A picture of Nur Khan in a F-86 cockpit (www.Flickr.com)
• [4] A picture of Nur Khan in a F-104 cockpit (www.Flickr.com)
• http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/545567.html
• http://www.siasat.pk/forum/showthread.php?93163-1965-War-Hero-Air-Marshal-Nur-Khan-Passes-Away
• http://islamabad.newspakistan.pk/2011/12/16/air-marshal-r-noor-khan-dies-the-nation-pakistan/

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