Squadron Leader

From Air Cadet Central Wiki

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 is equivalent to a Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Navy or a Major in the British Army or the Royal Marines.

Squadron Leader History

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.

Squadron Leaders in the ATC

In the ATC this rank is reserved for senior Wing Staff Officers and Squadron Commanders of the largest Squadrons in the Corps (over 100 cadets).

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.