Squadron Leader
|
A Squadron Leader's sleeve/shoulder insignia |
Squadron Leader (
Sqn Ldr) is a commissioned rank in some air forces. The name originated in the British
Royal Air Force and is common in
Commonwealth air forces. In these cases a Squadron Leader ranks above
Flight Lieutenant and immediately below
Wing Commander. It has a
NATO ranking code of OF-3, equivalent to a
Lieutenant-Commander in the
Royal Navy or a
Major in the
British Army or the
Royal Marines.
On
1 April 1918, the newly created RAF adopted its officer rank titles from the
British Army, with
Royal Naval Air Service Lieutenant-Commanders and
Royal Flying Corps Majors becoming Majors in the RAF. 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 Squadron Leader would have been Air Lieutenant-Commander. However, the
Admiralty objected to this modification of their rank titles. The rank title Squadron Leader was chosen as
Squadrons were typically led by RAF Majors and the term Squadron Commander had been used in the Royal Naval Air Service. The rank of Squadron Leader has been used continuously since
1 August 1919.
Before the
Second World War, a Squadron Leader commanded a
squadron of aircraft. Today, however, a flying squadron is usually commanded by a Wing Commander, with each of the two
flights under a Squadron Leader. However, squadrons which are administrative sub-divisions of a
Wing are ordinarily commanded by a Squadron Leader.
Squadrons of the
RAF Regiment are normally commanded by a Squadron Leader.
The rank
insignia consists of a thin blue band on a slightly wider black band between two narrow blue bands on slightly wider black bands. This is worn on both the lower sleeves of the tunic or on the shoulders of the flying suit or the casual uniform.
|
A Squadron Leader's Command Flag |
Squadron Leaders are the lowest ranking officers that may fly a command flag. The flag may be depicted on the officer's aircraft or, should the squadron leader be in command, the flag may be flown from a flagpole or displayed on an official car as a car flag. If the Squadron Leader is in command of a numbered squadron, then the number of the squadron would also be shown on the flag.
In the
Household Cavalry and
Royal Armoured Corps, "Squadron Leader" is the title (but not the rank) often given to the commander of a squadron (
company) of
armoured fighting vehicles. The squadron leader is usually a Major, although in the
Second World War the post was often held by a
Captain.
The rank has been borrowed in
science fiction including the
Star Wars films and its extended universe of
literature and
comics.
The rank of Squadron Leader is also used in a number of the air forces in the
Commonwealth, including the
Ghana Air Force,
Indian Air Force (IAF),
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF),
Pakistan Air Force (PAF),
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and
Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The
Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) used the rank until the unification of the
Canadian Forces in 1968, when army-type rank titles were adopted. A Canadian Squadron Leader then became a
Major.
*
RAF officer ranks*
Comparative military ranks*
RAF Command Flags
