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{{Short description|One-star rank and is an air-officer rank (Flag Rank, Deputy Director General Level)}}
{{Short description|One-star rank and an air-officer rank)}}
{{for|the butterfly with this common name|Precis actia{{!}}''Precis actia''}}
{{for|the butterfly with this common name|Precis actia{{!}}''Precis actia''}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Globalize||United Kingdom|date=October 2023}}
{{Military ranks | state=expanded}}
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'''Air commodore''' ('''Air Cdre''' or '''Air Cmde''') 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=1 December 2007 |year=2007 |publisher=[[Royal Air Force]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214025748/http://www.raf.mod.uk/structure/commissionedranks.cfm |archive-date=14 December 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.
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Air commodore is immediately senior to [[group captain]] and immediately subordinate to [[air vice-marshal]]. It is usually equivalent to a [[Commodore (rank)|commodore]] or a [[brigadier]]/[[brigadier general]].
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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 "air commandant".
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==Canada==
{{see also|Canadian Armed Forces ranks and insignia}}
The rank was used in the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] (RCAF) until the 1968 [[Unification of the Canadian Armed Forces|unification of the Canadian Forces]], when army-type rank titles were adopted. Canadian air commodores then became [[brigadier-general]]s. In official [[Canadian French]] usage, the rank title was {{lang|fr|commodore 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> The position of honorary air commodore still exists in the [[Royal Canadian Air Cadets]].{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
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==India==
{{main|Air commodore (India)}}
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== United Kingdom ==
{{see also|RAF officer ranks}}
{{Infobox military rank
{{Infobox military rank
| nameĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  = Air commodore
| nameĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  = Air Commodore
| imageĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  = UK-Air-OF6-Flag.svg
| imageĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  = United Kingdom-Air force-OF-6-collected.svg
| image_sizeĀ  Ā  = 150px
| image_sizeĀ  Ā  = 100px
| captionĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  = An RAF air commodore's command flag
| captionĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  = Shoulder and sleeve insignia
| image2Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  = United Kingdom-Air force-OF-6-collected.svg
| image2Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  = UK-Air-OF6-Flag.svg
| image_size2Ā  Ā  = 100px
| image_size2Ā  Ā  = 100px
| caption2Ā  Ā  Ā  = Shoulder and sleeve insignia from the [[Royal Air Force]]
| caption2Ā  Ā  Ā  = Command flag
| image3Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  = Air Commodore star plate.svg Ā 
| image3Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  = RAF star plate OF-6.svg Ā 
| image_size3Ā  Ā  = 100px
| image_size3Ā  Ā  = 100px
| caption3Ā  Ā  Ā  = A RAF Air Commodore star plate
| caption3Ā  Ā  Ā  = Star plate
| countryĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  = Ā 
| countryĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  = United Kingdom
| service branch = [[Air force]]s
| service branch = {{air force|United Kingdom}}
| abbreviationĀ  = Air Cdre / AIRCDRE
| abbreviationĀ  = Air Cdre / AIRCDRE
| rankĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  = [[One-star rank|One-star]] Ā 
| rankĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  = [[One-star rank|One-star]] Ā 
| NATO rankĀ  Ā  Ā  = [[Ranks and insignia of NATO air forces officers#Officers (OF 1ā€“10)|OF-6]]
| NATO rankĀ  Ā  Ā  = [[Ranks and insignia of NATO air forces officers#Officers (OF 1ā€“10)|OF-6]]
| Non-NATO rankĀ  = [[One-star rank|O-7
| formationĀ  Ā  Ā  = {{start date|1919|08|01|df=y}}
]]
| formationĀ  Ā  Ā  = {{start date|1919|08|01|df=y}} ([[Royal Air Force|RAF]])
| abolishedĀ  Ā  Ā  =
| abolishedĀ  Ā  Ā  =
| higher rankĀ  Ā  = [[Air vice-marshal]]
| higher rankĀ  Ā  = [[Air vice-marshal]]
| lower rankĀ  Ā  = [[Group captain]]
| lower rankĀ  Ā  = [[Group captain]]
| equivalentsĀ  Ā  = {{unbulleted list|{{nowrap|[[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier]] ([[British Army]]; [[Royal Marines]])}}|[[Commodore (Royal Navy)|Commodore]] ([[Royal Navy|RN]])|{{nowrap|[[Brigadier general]] ([[Canadian Armed Forces]])}}|[[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier general]] ([[United States Armed Forces|US Armed Forces]])}}
| equivalentsĀ  Ā  = {{unbulleted list|{{nowrap|[[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier]] ([[British Army|Army]]; [[Royal Marines|Marines]])}}|[[Commodore (Royal Navy)|Commodore]] ([[Royal Navy|Navy]])}}
}}
}}


'''Air commodore''' is a senior rank in the air forces of the United Kingdom and other countries including Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan and Zimbabwe. It is a [[one-star rank]] and is an [[air officer]] (Flag Rank, Deputy Director General Level) rank. It originated in, and continues to be used by 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=1 December 2007 |year=2007 |publisher=[[Royal Air Force]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214025748/http://www.raf.mod.uk/structure/commissionedranks.cfm |archive-date=14 December 2007 |url-status=deadĀ  }}</ref>
Air commodore is abbreviated as '''Air Cdre''' in the Royal Air Force<ref>{{cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227048/acronyms_and_abbreviations_dec08.pdf|access-date=17 April 2023|website=service.gov.uk|title=Acronyms and abbreviations|date=December 2008}}</ref> and [[Pakistan Air Force]]; '''Air Cmde''' in the [[Indian Air Force]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://indianairforce.nic.in/sites/default/files/RTI_WAC.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021051832/https://indianairforce.nic.in/sites/default/files/RTI_WAC.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and '''AIR CDRE''' in the [[RNZAF]] and [[RAAF]]. In Commonwealth usage, the name of the rank is always the full phrase; it is never shortened to "[[Commodore (rank)|commodore]]", which is a rank in various naval forces.
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.
<!--PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE NATO OF CODES. THEY GO FROM 1 TO 10 AND ARE NOT THE SAME AS UNITED STATES O CODES WHICH RANK FROM 1 TO 11. OF-1 COVERS BOTH O-1 AND O-2-->
Air commodore is immediately senior to [[group captain]] and immediately subordinate to [[air vice-marshal]]. It has a [[NATO]] ranking code of OF-6 and is equivalent to a [[Commodore (Royal Navy)|commodore]] in the [[Royal Navy]] or a [[brigadier]] in the [[British Army]] or the [[Royal Marines]]. Unlike these two ranks, however, it has always been a [[substantive rank]].
Air commodores have always been considered to be air officers whilst Royal Navy commodores have not since the Napoleonic Wars been classified as officers of flag rank, and British Army brigadiers have not been considered to be general officers since 1922 when they ceased to be titled as brigadier-generals. In other NATO forces, such as the [[United States Armed Forces]] and the [[Canadian Armed Forces]], the equivalent one-star rank is [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]].
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 "air commandant".
==Royal Air Force use and history==
In the present-day RAF, air commodores typically hold senior appointments within [[Group (air force)|groups]], acting directly in support of the [[air officer commanding]]. However, during the inter-war period, and in the case of the contemporary [[No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group (United Kingdom)|No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group]], the air officer commanding held or holds air commodore rank.Ā  In the [[Air Training Corps]], an appointed air commodore holds ultimate authority over the cadet organisation as the [[Commandant Air Cadets]].
In the present-day RAF, air commodores typically hold senior appointments within [[Group (air force)|groups]], acting directly in support of the [[air officer commanding]]. However, during the inter-war period, and in the case of the contemporary [[No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group (United Kingdom)|No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group]], the air officer commanding held or holds air commodore rank.Ā  In the [[Air Training Corps]], an appointed air commodore holds ultimate authority over the cadet organisation as the [[Commandant Air Cadets]].


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{{See also|:Category:Honorary air commodores}}
{{See also|:Category:Honorary air commodores}}
[[Image:Churchil at the Tehran Conference 1943.jpg|thumbnail|right|150px|Churchill in his air commodore's uniform at the 1943 Tehran Conference]]
[[Image:Churchil at the Tehran Conference 1943.jpg|thumbnail|right|150px|Churchill in his air commodore's uniform at the 1943 Tehran Conference]]
The [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|reigning monarch]] may appoint honorary air commodores for RAF flying squadrons and stations. For example, [[Charles, Prince of Wales|King Charles III]] is [[RAF Valley]]'s honorary air commodore and [[Winston Churchill]] was [[No. 615 Squadron RAF|615 Squadron]]'s honorary air commodore.<ref name="TimesChurchillUniform">{{cite news|title=Questions Answered: Winston Churchill in uniform and Ralph or Rafe|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/court_and_social/article4742261.ece|access-date=14 June 2010|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=13 September 2008 }}</ref> As the title suggests, this is an honorary position bestowed by the reigning monarch and it does not grant the recipient command of a unit or formation. It is designed to strengthen the bond between the military unit and the individual and promote the role of the air force amongst the public.
The [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|reigning monarch]] may appoint honorary air commodores for RAF flying squadrons and stations. For example, [[William, Prince of Wales|Prince William]] is [[RAF Valley]]'s honorary air commodore and [[Winston Churchill]] was [[No. 615 Squadron RAF|615 Squadron]]'s honorary air commodore.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=The |date=2024-07-09 |title=Court Circular: July 9, 2024 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/court-circular-july-9-2024-kn385f5pf |access-date=2025-10-03 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name="TimesChurchillUniform">{{cite news|title=Questions Answered: Winston Churchill in uniform and Ralph or Rafe|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/court_and_social/article4742261.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203000237/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/court_and_social/article4742261.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2008|access-date=14 June 2010|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=13 September 2008 }}</ref> As the title suggests, this is an honorary position bestowed by the reigning monarch and it does not grant the recipient command of a unit or formation. It is designed to strengthen the bond between the military unit and the individual and promote the role of the air force among the public.


Serving officers may be granted an equivalent appointment to the honorary rank. In such cases the individual is made an honorary air commandant and they retain their regular rank.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Pressreleases/2008/ANNOUNCEMENTOFNEWROYALAIRFORCEHONORARYAPPOINTMENTS.aspx|title=New Royal Air Force honorary appointments|publisher=The Official Website of the British Monarchy|date=2 October 2008|access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref>
Serving officers may be granted an equivalent appointment to the honorary rank. In such cases the individual is made an honorary air commandant and they retain their regular rank.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Pressreleases/2008/ANNOUNCEMENTOFNEWROYALAIRFORCEHONORARYAPPOINTMENTS.aspx|title=New Royal Air Force honorary appointments|publisher=The Official Website of the British Monarchy|date=2 October 2008|access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref>
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Larger air force organisations or formations may be honoured by having an [[air commodore-in-chief]] appointed in their name. These RAF appointments are rare and to date (2020) have been given to just five senior members of the royal family, of whom three were reigning or [[Prince of Wales|future]] monarchs of the United Kingdom. Air commodore-in-chief is not a rank and such an appointment does not convey the rank of air commodore upon the recipient.
Larger air force organisations or formations may be honoured by having an [[air commodore-in-chief]] appointed in their name. These RAF appointments are rare and to date (2020) have been given to just five senior members of the royal family, of whom three were reigning or [[Prince of Wales|future]] monarchs of the United Kingdom. Air commodore-in-chief is not a rank and such an appointment does not convey the rank of air commodore upon the recipient.


==Other air forces==
== Gallery ==
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<!-- In alphabetic order of country name please -->
===Commonwealth of Nations===
<gallery class="center">
{{see also|Air commodore (India)}}
File:British RAF OF-6.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>
The rank of air commodore is also used in a number of the air forces in the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]], including the [[Bangladesh Air Force]],<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]],<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]], [[Pakistan Air Force]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paf.gov.pk/ranks.html |title=PAKISTAN AIR FORCE - Official website |publisher=Paf.gov.pk |access-date=15 March 2019 |archive-date=13 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113183611/http://www.paf.gov.pk/ranks.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Royal Australian Air Force]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/structure/rank-comparative/ |title=Comparative table of ranks &#124; Australian War Memorial |access-date=8 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530232935/https://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/structure/rank-comparative/ |archive-date=30 May 2016 |url-status=deadĀ  }}</ref> [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]], [[Sri Lanka Air Force]] and the [[Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.looptt.com/content/tt-gets-its-first-air-commodore|title = T&T gets its first Air Commodore &#124; Loop Trinidad & Tobago}}</ref>
File:British RAF OF-6.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>
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File:13.Ghana Air Force-BG.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>
The [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] used the rank until the unification of the [[Canadian Forces]] in 1968, when army-type rank titles were adopted. An air commodore then became a brigadier-general (following the US Armed Forces title, rather than the British [[brigadier]], which had been held by equivalent officers in the former [[Canadian Army]]). In official French Canadian usage, the rank title was ''commodore de l'air''. The position of honorary air commodore still exists in the [[Royal Canadian Air Cadets]].{{citation needed|date=June 2015}} Similarly the rank was replaced by brigadier general in 1973 in the [[Royal Malaysian Air Force]].
File:British RAF OF-6.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>
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File:13-Namibia Air Force-AIRCDRE.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=99ā€“102 |url=http://www.lac.org.na/laws/2010/4547.pdf |access-date=20 December 2021}}</ref>
As with the RAF, large air force organisations or formations in the other [[Commonwealth realms]] may be honoured by having an [[air commodore-in-chief]] appointed in their name. These appointments are rare and to date (2020) have been given to just three senior members of the royal family{{snd}}[[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]], [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]] and [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince Charles]]{{snd}}in just three non-UK Commonwealth air forces ([[Royal Canadian Air Force|RCAF]], [[Royal New Zealand Air Force|RNZAF]], [[Royal Australian Air Force|RAAF]]). Air commodore-in-chief is not a rank and such an appointment does not convey the rank of air commodore upon the recipient.
File:Nigeria-AirForce-OF-6.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=296ā€“297 |edition=5th |url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.nigeriacountryst00metz_0/?sp=340 |access-date=21 October 2021 |chapter=National Security}}</ref>
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File:Pak-air-force-OF-6.svg|([[Pakistan Air Force]])
<gallery>
File:British RAF OF-6.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:Australia RAAF OF-6.svg|An [[RAAF]] air commodore's rank insignia.
File:British RAF OF-6.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:Indian IAF OF-6.svg|An [[Indian Air Force]] air commodore's sleeve/shoulder insignia
File:TaT-Air Guard-OF-6.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=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
File:NZ-Air-OF6.svg|An [[Royal New Zealand Air Force|RNZAF]] air commodore's rank insignia.
File:Canadian_RCAF_Mess_Dress_Of-06.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>
File:13-Namibia Air Force-AIRCDRE.svg|A [[Namibian Air Force]] air commodore's rank insignia.
File:Pak-air-force-OF-6.svg|A [[Pakistan Air Force]] air commodore's rank insignia.
File:TaT-Air Guard-OF-6.png|A [[Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard]] air commodore's rank insignia.
</gallery>
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===Non-Commonwealth countries===
Air commodore, a is also a rank in the [[Egyptian 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 |archive-date=13 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213181351/http://www.afz.gov.zw/?page_id=1115 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Ā 
In the [[Indonesian Air Force]] the rank of [[Indonesian military ranks|''Komodor Udara'']], a calque of "air commodore" was used until 1973. The present equivalent is [[Indonesian military ranks|''Marsekal Pertama'']], a calque of "First Marshal" and this is usually translated into English as air commodore.
Ā 
While the names of most ranks of the [[Hellenic Air Force]] (HAF) are [[Greek language]] calques of RAF ranks, the HAF equivalent of O-7/OF-6 is ''[[Taxiarch]]os tis aeroporias'', which may be literally translated from modern Greek as "brigadier of the air force" (or "aviation brigadier"). (A [[free translation]] of the army rank of ''taxiarchis'', which originated in ancient Greece, is "one who orders" and the Greek root Ļ„Ī¬Ī¾Ī¹Ļ‚ ''taxis'' is also the basis of the aviation term [[taxiing|taxi]] ā€“ that is, to move one or more aircraft on the ground.) Nevertheless, ''Taxiarchos tis aeroporias'' is normally rendered into English as "air commodore" and the rank was introduced during the Second World War,{{citation needed|date=February 2012}} after the Greek armed forces were reconstituted in exile, often alongside or within Commonwealth military formations, such as [[RAF Middle East Command]].
Ā 
Other air forces have, or once had, an equivalent rank named simply commodore (or a derived term such as ''comodoro''), without the qualifying prefix "air". Examples include the [[Argentinian Air Force]], [[Chilean Air Force]], and [[Royal Netherlands Air Force]]. Such a rank often has essentially the same rank insignia as that of an RAF air commodore.
Ā 
<gallery>
File:Comodoro FACH.pngĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  |A [[Chilean Air Force|Chilean (CAF)]] ''Comodoro'' rank insignia.
Image:Hellenic Air Force OF-6.svgĀ  Ā  Ā  |A [[Hellenic Air Force|Greek (HAF)]] ''[[taxiarch]]os'' rank insignia.
File:Marsma pdh au.pngĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  |An [[Indonesian Air Force|Indonesian (IAF)]] air commodore's rank insignia.
File:Nl-luchtmacht-commodore.svgĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  |A [[Royal Netherlands Air Force|Netherlands (RNAF)]] commodore's rank insignia.
</gallery>
</gallery>


==See also==
==See also==
{{stack|{{Portal|United Kingdom|War|Aviation}}}}
{{stack|{{Portal|United Kingdom|Aviation}}}}
* [[Air force officer rank insignia]]
* [[Air force officer rank insignia]]
* [[Comparison of United Kingdom and United States military ranks]]
* [[Comparison of United Kingdom and United States military ranks]]
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==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
<br /><!-- White space to separate table from text -->
Ā 
{{UK officer ranks}}
{{UK officer ranks}}
{{Military ranks by country}}
{{Military ranks by country}}
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[[Category:Air force ranks]]
[[Category:Air force ranks]]
[[Category:One-star officers]]
[[Category:One-star officers]]
[[Category:1919 introductions]]

Latest revision as of 15:22, 23 March 2026


For the butterfly with this common name, see Precis actia.

Template:Military ranks

Air commodore (Air Cdre or Air Cmde) is an air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force.[1] 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.

Air commodore is immediately senior to group captain and immediately subordinate to air vice-marshal. It is usually equivalent to a commodore or a brigadier/brigadier general.

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 "air commandant".

Canada[edit | edit source]

See also: Canadian Armed Forces ranks and insignia

The rank was used in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) until the 1968 unification of the Canadian Forces, when army-type rank titles were adopted. Canadian air commodores then became brigadier-generals. In official Canadian French usage, the rank title was commodore de l'air.[2] The position of honorary air commodore still exists in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.[citation needed]

India[edit | edit source]

Main article: Air commodore (India)

United Kingdom[edit | edit source]

See also: RAF officer ranks
Air Commodore
Shoulder and sleeve insignia
Command flag
Star plate
CountryUnited Kingdom
Service branchFile:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
AbbreviationAir Cdre / AIRCDRE
RankOne-star
NATO rank codeOF-6
Formation1 August 1919 (1919-08-01)
Next higher rankAir vice-marshal
Next lower rankGroup captain
Equivalent ranks

In the present-day RAF, air commodores typically hold senior appointments within groups, acting directly in support of the air officer commanding. However, during the inter-war period, and in the case of the contemporary No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group, the air officer commanding held or holds air commodore rank. In the Air Training Corps, an appointed air commodore holds ultimate authority over the cadet organisation as the Commandant Air Cadets.

Origins[edit | edit source]

On 1 April 1918, the newly created RAF adopted its officer rank titles from the British Army, with officers at what is now air commodore holding the rank of brigadier-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. Although the Admiralty objected to this simple modification of their rank titles, it was agreed that the RAF might base many of its officer rank titles on Navy officer ranks with differing pre-modifying terms. It was also suggested that air-officer ranks could 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 "fourth ardian" or "flight ardian" being used for the equivalent to brigadier-general and commodore. However, the rank title based on the Navy rank was preferred and air commodore was adopted in August 1919.[3]

RAF insignia, command flag and star plate[edit | edit source]

The rank insignia is a light-blue band on a broad black band worn on both the lower sleeves of the tunic or on the shoulders of the flying suit or the casual uniform. On the mess uniform, air commodores wear a broad gold ring on both lower sleeves.

The command flag of an air commodore has one narrow red band running through the centre and is rectangular with a cut-away section giving it two tails. It is the only RAF command flag of this shape and it is similar in shape to that of a Royal Navy commodore's broad pennant. The vehicle star plate for an air commodore depicts a single white star (air commodore is equivalent to a one-star rank) on an air force blue background. RAF air commodores are classed as air officers and as such have two rows of gold oak leaves on the peak of their service dress hats.

  • An RAF air commodore's sleeve mess insignia
    An RAF air commodore's sleeve mess insignia
  • An RAF air commodore's sleeve on No. 1 service dress uniform
    An RAF air commodore's sleeve on No. 1 service dress uniform
  • An air commodore's command flag
    An air commodore's command flag

Honorary air commodores, air commodores-in-chief and air commandants[edit | edit source]

See also: Category:Honorary air commodores
Churchill in his air commodore's uniform at the 1943 Tehran Conference

The reigning monarch may appoint honorary air commodores for RAF flying squadrons and stations. For example, Prince William is RAF Valley's honorary air commodore and Winston Churchill was 615 Squadron's honorary air commodore.[4][5] As the title suggests, this is an honorary position bestowed by the reigning monarch and it does not grant the recipient command of a unit or formation. It is designed to strengthen the bond between the military unit and the individual and promote the role of the air force among the public.

Serving officers may be granted an equivalent appointment to the honorary rank. In such cases the individual is made an honorary air commandant and they retain their regular rank.[6]

Larger air force organisations or formations may be honoured by having an air commodore-in-chief appointed in their name. These RAF appointments are rare and to date (2020) have been given to just five senior members of the royal family, of whom three were reigning or future monarchs of the United Kingdom. Air commodore-in-chief is not a rank and such an appointment does not convey the rank of air commodore upon the recipient.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ā†‘ "Ranks and Badges of the Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force. 2007. Archived from the original on 14 December 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  2. ā†‘ "The RCAF". castlearchdale.net. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  3. ā†‘ Hobart, Malcolm C (2000). Badges and Uniforms of the Royal Air Force. Leo Cooper. p. 26. ISBN 0-85052-739-2.
  4. ā†‘ Times, The (9 July 2024). "Court Circular: July 9, 2024". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  5. ā†‘ "Questions Answered: Winston Churchill in uniform and Ralph or Rafe". The Times. 13 September 2008. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  6. ā†‘ "New Royal Air Force honorary appointments". The Official Website of the British Monarchy. 2 October 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  7. ā†‘ "Badges of rank" (PDF). defence.gov.au. Department of Defence (Australia). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  8. ā†‘ "OFFICER'S RANKS". joinbangladeshairforce.mil.bd. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  9. ā†‘ "Rank Structure". gafonline.mil.gh. Ghana Air Force. 2018. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  10. ā†‘ "For Officers". careerairforce.nic.in. Indian Air Force. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  11. ā†‘ "Government Notice" (PDF). Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia. Vol. 4547. 20 August 2010. pp. 99ā€“102. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  12. ā†‘ Smaldone, Joseph P. (1992). "National Security". In Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Nigeria: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 296ā€“297. LCCN 92009026. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  13. ā†‘ "Commissioned Officers". airforce.lk. Sri Lanka Air Force. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  14. ā†‘ "RAF Ranks". raf.mod.uk/. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  15. ā†‘ "Rank Chart (Commissioned Officers)". 69.0.195.188. Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. Retrieved 27 May 2021.[permanent dead link]
  16. ā†‘ "Ranks and Badges in the AFZ". afz.gov.zw. Air Force of Zimbabwe. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2021.

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