Squadron leader - Revision history

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	==See also==		==See also==
	{{stack\|~~{{Portal\|United Kingdom\|War\|Aviation}}~~}}		{{stack\|}}
	* [[Air force officer rank insignia]]		* [[Air force officer rank insignia]]
	* [[British and U.S. military ranks compared]]		* [[British and U.S. military ranks compared]]

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← Older revision		Revision as of 04:52, 28 September 2022
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	{{short description\|OF-3 rank in the Royal Air Force and other air forces}}		{{short description\|OF-3 rank in the Royal Air Force and other air forces}}
	{{EngvarB\|date=May ~~2022~~}}		{{EngvarB\|date=May 2013}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2022}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2022}}
	{{more citations needed\|date=September ~~2022~~}}		{{more citations needed\|date=September 2019}}
	{{Infobox military rank		{{Infobox military rank
	\| name = Squadron leader		\| name = Squadron leader
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	From 1 April 1918 to 31 July 1919, the RAF used major as the equivalent rank to squadron leader. Royal Naval Air Service lieutenant-commanders and Royal Flying Corps majors on 31 March 1918 became RAF majors on 1 April 1918. On 31 August 1919, the RAF rank of major was superseded by squadron leader which has remained in continuous usage ever since. Promotion to squadron leader is strictly on merit, and requires the individual to be appointed to a Career Commission, which will see them remain in the RAF until retirement or voluntary resignation.		From 1 April 1918 to 31 July 1919, the RAF used major as the equivalent rank to squadron leader. Royal Naval Air Service lieutenant-commanders and Royal Flying Corps majors on 31 March 1918 became RAF majors on 1 April 1918. On 31 August 1919, the RAF rank of major was superseded by squadron leader which has remained in continuous usage ever since. Promotion to squadron leader is strictly on merit, and requires the individual to be appointed to a Career Commission, which will see them remain in the RAF until retirement or voluntary resignation.
	[[File:Squadron Leader Ross Reid DFC 438 RCAF Squadron 1944.jpg\|thumb\|Squadron Leader Ross Reid, pictured in 1944; he wears three shoulder stripes and the [[medal ribbon]] of a [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)\|Distinguished Flying Cross]].]]		[[File:Squadron Leader Ross Reid DFC 438 RCAF Squadron 1944.jpg\|thumb\|Squadron Leader Ross Reid, pictured in 1944; he wears three shoulder stripes and the [[medal ribbon]] of a [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)\|Distinguished Flying Cross]].]]
	Before the [[Second World War]], a squadron leader commanded a [[Squadron (aviation)\|squadron]] of aircraft. Today, however, a flying squadron is usually commanded by a [[Wing commander (rank)\|wing commander]], with each of the two [[flight (military unit)\|flights]] under a squadron leader. However, ground-operating squadrons which are sub-divisions of a [[Wing (air force unit)\|wing]] are ordinarily commanded by a squadron leader. This includes squadrons of the [[RAF Regiment]] and [[University Air Squadron]]s.{{citation needed\|date=April ~~2022~~}}		Before the [[Second World War]], a squadron leader commanded a [[Squadron (aviation)\|squadron]] of aircraft. Today, however, a flying squadron is usually commanded by a [[Wing commander (rank)\|wing commander]], with each of the two [[flight (military unit)\|flights]] under a squadron leader. However, ground-operating squadrons which are sub-divisions of a [[Wing (air force unit)\|wing]] are ordinarily commanded by a squadron leader. This includes squadrons of the [[RAF Regiment]] and [[University Air Squadron]]s.{{citation needed\|date=April 2011}}

	==Insignia and command flag==		==Insignia and command flag==
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	==Other air forces==		==Other air forces==
	The rank of squadron leader is also used in a number of the air forces in the [[Commonwealth of Nations\|Commonwealth]], including the [[Bangladesh Air Force]] (BAF),<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://baf.mil.bd/website/rank.php \|title=BAF RANKS \|author=<!--Not stated--> \|date=2020 \|website=Bangladesh Air Force Website \|publisher=BAF Communication Unit \|access-date=13 December ~~2022~~}}</ref> [[Ghana Air Force]], [[Indian Air Force]] (IAF),<ref>{{cite news \|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> \|title=Officer ranks in Indian Army, Air Force and Navy \|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/officer-ranks-in-indian-army-air-force-and-navy-1464351-2019-02-25 \|work=[[India Today]] \|location=[[New Delhi]] \|date=25 February 2019 \|access-date=19 December ~~2022~~}}</ref> [[Namibian Air Force]], [[Sri Lanka Air Force]] (SLAF), [[Pakistan Air Force]] (PAF), [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF), [[Nigerian Air Force]] (NAF), and [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] (RNZAF). It is also used in the [[Egyptian Air Force]], [[Hellenic Air Force]], [[Royal Air Force of Oman]] the [[Royal Thai Air Force]] and the [[Air Force of Zimbabwe]].<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.afz.gov.zw/?page_id=1115 \|title=RANKS AND BADGES IN THE AFZ \|author=<!--Not stated--> \|date=2020 \|website=Air Force of Zimbabwe Website \|publisher=Air Force of Zimbabwe \|access-date=13 December ~~2022~~}}</ref>		The rank of squadron leader is also used in a number of the air forces in the [[Commonwealth of Nations\|Commonwealth]], including the [[Bangladesh Air Force]] (BAF),<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://baf.mil.bd/website/rank.php \|title=BAF RANKS \|author=<!--Not stated--> \|date=2020 \|website=Bangladesh Air Force Website \|publisher=BAF Communication Unit \|access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref> [[Ghana Air Force]], [[Indian Air Force]] (IAF),<ref>{{cite news \|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> \|title=Officer ranks in Indian Army, Air Force and Navy \|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/officer-ranks-in-indian-army-air-force-and-navy-1464351-2019-02-25 \|work=[[India Today]] \|location=[[New Delhi]] \|date=25 February 2019 \|access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> [[Namibian Air Force]], [[Sri Lanka Air Force]] (SLAF), [[Pakistan Air Force]] (PAF), [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF), [[Nigerian Air Force]] (NAF), and [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] (RNZAF). It is also used in the [[Egyptian Air Force]], [[Hellenic Air Force]], [[Royal Air Force of Oman]] the [[Royal Thai Air Force]] and the [[Air Force of Zimbabwe]].<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.afz.gov.zw/?page_id=1115 \|title=RANKS AND BADGES IN THE AFZ \|author=<!--Not stated--> \|date=2020 \|website=Air Force of Zimbabwe Website \|publisher=Air Force of Zimbabwe \|access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref>

	Canada used the rank of squadron leader from 1920 to 1968. With the unification of the [[Canadian Armed Forces]] in 1968, the [[Royal Canadian Air Force\|air force]] rank titles were aligned to those of the Canadian Army with Canadian squadron leaders became majors while a common rank insignia was adopted. However, in 2015, the insignia for Canadian air force majors reverted to two and half strips of braid in pearl grey on black.		Canada used the rank of squadron leader from 1920 to 1968. With the unification of the [[Canadian Armed Forces]] in 1968, the [[Royal Canadian Air Force\|air force]] rank titles were aligned to those of the Canadian Army with Canadian squadron leaders became majors while a common rank insignia was adopted. However, in 2015, the insignia for Canadian air force majors reverted to two and half strips of braid in pearl grey on black.

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{{short description|OF-3 rank in the Royal Air Force and other air forces}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox military rank
| name = Squadron leader
| image = UK-Air-OF3-Flag.svg
| image_size = 150px
| caption = An RAF squadron leader's command flag
| image2 = British RAF OF-3.svg
| image_size2 = 100px
| caption2 = Shoulder and sleeve insignia of a squadron leader from the [[Royal Air Force]]
| image3 =
| image_size3 =
| caption3 =
| country =
| service branch = [[Air force]]s
| abbreviation = Sqn Ldr / {{smaller|SQNLDR}}
| rank =
| NATO rank = [[Ranks and insignia of NATO armies officers#Officers (OF 1–10)|OF-3]]
| Non-NATO rank = O-4
| formation = {{start date|1918|04|01|df=y}} ([[Royal Air Force|RAF]])
| abolished =
| higher rank = [[Wing commander (rank)|Wing commander]]
| lower rank = [[Flight lieutenant]]
| equivalents = {{unbulleted list|{{nowrap|[[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]] ([[British Army]]; [[Royal Marines]])}}|[[Lieutenant commander (Royal Navy)|Lieutenant commander]] ([[Royal Navy|RN]])}}
| history = [[Royal Naval Air Service]]
}}
{{Military ranks | state=expanded}}
'''Squadron leader''' ('''Sqn Ldr''' in the RAF ; '''SQNLDR''' in the [[Royal Australian Air Force|RAAF]] and [[Royal New Zealand Air Force|RNZAF]]; formerly sometimes '''S/L''' in all services) is a [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned]] rank in the [[Royal Air Force]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/commissionedranks.cfm |title=Ranks and Badges of the Royal Air Force |access-date=2007-12-01 |year=2007 |publisher=[[Royal Air Force]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110709184204/http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/commissionedranks.cfm |archive-date=9 July 2011 }}</ref> and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. 

An air force squadron leader ranks above [[flight lieutenant]] and immediately below [[Wing commander (rank)|wing commander]] and it is the most junior of the senior officer ranks. The air force rank of squadron leader has a [[NATO]] ranking code of [[Ranks and insignia of officers in NATO air forces|OF-3]], equivalent to a [[Lieutenant commander (Royal Navy)|lieutenant-commander]] in the [[Royal Navy]] or a [[Major (United Kingdom)|major]] in the [[British Army]] or the [[Royal Marines]]. The equivalent rank in the [[Women's Auxiliary Air Force]], [[Women's Royal Air Force]] (until 1968) and [[Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service]] (until 1980) was "squadron officer".

Squadron leader has also been used as a cavalry command appointment (UK) and rank (France) since at least the nineteenth century. In Argentina it is used as a command appointment by both the army's cavalry and by the air force's flying units. The cavalry rank of squadron leader in France is also an OF-4 equivalent to a major, and the cavalry appointment of squadron leader in the UK generally corresponds to this rank as well.

==Origins==
The rank originated in the British [[Royal Air Force]] and was adopted by several other air forces which use, or used, the [[RAF officer ranks|RAF rank system]].

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 (United Kingdom)|Admiralty]] objected to this modification of their rank titles. The rank title squadron leader was chosen as [[Squadron (aviation)|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 was introduced 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> and has been used continuously since then.

==RAF usage==
From 1 April 1918 to 31 July 1919, the RAF used major as the equivalent rank to squadron leader. Royal Naval Air Service lieutenant-commanders and Royal Flying Corps majors on 31 March 1918 became RAF majors on 1 April 1918. On 31 August 1919, the RAF rank of major was superseded by squadron leader which has remained in continuous usage ever since. Promotion to squadron leader is strictly on merit, and requires the individual to be appointed to a Career Commission, which will see them remain in the RAF until retirement or voluntary resignation.
[[File:Squadron Leader Ross Reid DFC 438 RCAF Squadron 1944.jpg|thumb|Squadron Leader Ross Reid, pictured in 1944; he wears three shoulder stripes and the [[medal ribbon]] of a [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]].]]
Before the [[Second World War]], a squadron leader commanded a [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] of aircraft. Today, however, a flying squadron is usually commanded by a [[Wing commander (rank)|wing commander]], with each of the two [[flight (military unit)|flights]] under a squadron leader. However, ground-operating squadrons which are sub-divisions of a [[Wing (air force unit)|wing]] are ordinarily commanded by a squadron leader. This includes squadrons of the [[RAF Regiment]] and [[University Air Squadron]]s.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

==Insignia and command flag==
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.

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 is also shown on the flag.

<gallery>
File:UK-Air-OF3.svg|An RAF squadron leader's sleeve/shoulder insignia
File:File-UK-Air-OF3-mess-insignia.svg|An RAF squadron leader's sleeve mess insignia
File:RAF-Sqn Ldr-OF-3.png|An RAF squadron leader's sleeve on No.1 service dress uniform
</gallery>

==Other air forces==
The rank of squadron leader is also used in a number of the air forces in the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]], including the [[Bangladesh Air Force]] (BAF),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://baf.mil.bd/website/rank.php |title=BAF RANKS |author= |date=2020 |website=Bangladesh Air Force Website |publisher=BAF Communication Unit |access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref> [[Ghana Air Force]], [[Indian Air Force]] (IAF),<ref>{{cite news |author= |title=Officer ranks in Indian Army, Air Force and Navy |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/officer-ranks-in-indian-army-air-force-and-navy-1464351-2019-02-25 |work=[[India Today]] |location=[[New Delhi]] |date=25 February 2019 |access-date=19 December 2022}}</ref> [[Namibian Air Force]], [[Sri Lanka Air Force]] (SLAF), [[Pakistan Air Force]] (PAF), [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF), [[Nigerian Air Force]] (NAF), and [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] (RNZAF). It is also used in the [[Egyptian Air Force]], [[Hellenic Air Force]], [[Royal Air Force of Oman]] the [[Royal Thai Air Force]] and the [[Air Force of Zimbabwe]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afz.gov.zw/?page_id=1115 |title=RANKS AND BADGES IN THE AFZ |author= |date=2020 |website=Air Force of Zimbabwe Website |publisher=Air Force of Zimbabwe |access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref>

Canada used the rank of squadron leader from 1920 to 1968. With the unification of the [[Canadian Armed Forces]] in 1968, the [[Royal Canadian Air Force|air force]] rank titles were aligned to those of the Canadian Army with Canadian squadron leaders became majors while a common rank insignia was adopted. However, in 2015, the insignia for Canadian air force majors reverted to two and half strips of braid in pearl grey on black.

The Chilean Air Force equivalent rank, in Chilean Spanish, is ''comandante de escuadrilla'' or squadron commander.

<gallery>
File:Australia RAAF OF-3.svg|An [[RAAF]] squadron leader's sleeve/shoulder insignia
File:NZ-Air-OF3.svg|A RNZAF squadron leader's sleeve/shoulder insignia
File:Canadian RCAF OF-3.svg|A RCAF major's sleeve/shoulder insignia, with rank braids in the traditional Commonwealth style.
File:Hellenic Air Force OF-3.svg|A Hellenic Air Force ''Episminagos'' (squadron leader's) rank insignia
File:Indian IAF OF-3.svg|An Indian Air Force squadron leader's rank insignia
File:10-Namibia Air Force-SQNLDR.svg|A Namibian Air Force squadron leader's rank insignia
File:RTAF OF-3 (Squadron Leader).svg|A [[Royal Thai Air Force|RTAF]] squadron leader's rank insignia
File:Sqn Ldr Pakistan Air Force.png|A [[Pakistan Air Force|PAF]] squadron-leader's shoulder rank insignia.
File:Fach escu.png|A [[Chilean Air Force|FACh]] squadron commander's shoulder rank insignia.
File:Squadron Leader - Egyptian Air Force rank.png|An [[Egyptian Air Force|EAF]] squadron leader's rank insignia.
</gallery>

==Land forces==
In the British [[Household Cavalry]] and [[Royal Armoured Corps]], "squadron leader" is the title (but not the rank) often given to the commander of a squadron ([[company (military unit)|company]]) of [[armoured fighting vehicle]]s. The squadron leader is usually a major, although in the [[Second World War]] the post was often held by a [[Captain (armed forces)|captain]].

==See also==
{{stack|{{Portal|United Kingdom|War|Aviation}}}}
* [[Air force officer rank insignia]]
* [[British and U.S. military ranks compared]]
* [[Comparative military ranks]]
* [[RAF officer ranks]]
* [[Ranks of the RAAF]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://flagspot.net/flags/gb-rafrk.html RAF Command Flags]

{{UK officer ranks}}

[[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:Air force ranks]]
[[Category:Military ranks of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Military ranks of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Military ranks of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:1919 introductions]]
[[Category:Military ranks of the Indian Air Force]]