Chom Phon Akat (Thai: จอมพลอากาศ) or Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force is a 5-star rank and the most senior rank in the Royal Thai Air Force. It is equivalent to a Field Marshal (or Chom Phon) in the Royal Thai Army and an Admiral of the Fleet (or Chom Phon Ruea) in the Royal Thai Navy. The rank of Marshal of the RTAF is also equivalent to the British rank of Marshal of the Royal Air Force.
Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force จอมพลอากาศ | |
---|---|
![]() Rank insignia of a Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force | |
![]() Rank Flag of a Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force | |
Country | ![]() |
Service branch | Royal Thai Air Force |
Rank | Five-star rank |
Formation | 1937 |
Next higher rank | Head of the Armed Forces |
Next lower rank | Air Chief Marshal |
Equivalent ranks |
The rank was formally created in 1937, with the formal foundation of the Royal Siamese Air Force. Together with all other ranks of an independent air force.
List of Marshals of the Royal Thai Air Force
No. | Image | Name | Life | Date of Appointment | Notes | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Plaek Phibunsongkhram | 1897–1964 | 1941 | Prime Minister of Thailand (1938–1944 and 1948–1957). Held the post of Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters. Also received the rank of Field Marshal and Admiral of the Fleet in the same year. Popularly known as Chom Phon Por (Field marshal Por). Previously held the rank of Major general in the army. | [1][2] |
2 | ![]() |
Fuen Ronnaphagrad Ritthakhanee | 1900–1987 | 1954 | Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand (1955–1957). Held the post of Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force (1949–1957). Also served as Ministry of Transport and as Ministry of Public Health under the premiership of Plaek Phibunsongkhram. | [3] |
4 | ![]() |
Sarit Thanarat | 1908–1963 | 1959 | Prime Minister of Thailand (1958–1963). Held the post of Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters. Received the rank of Field Marshal in 1956.[4] Later also receive the rank of Admiral of the Fleet and Marshal of the Air Force in 1959. Previously held the rank of General in the army, Admiral in navy and Air Chief Marshal in the air force.[5] | [6][7] |
3 | ![]() |
Chalermkiat Vatthanangkun | 1914–1960 | 1960 | Awarded posthumously by Royal Command. Plane crashed into mountain near Taipei, while on state business as Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force (1957–1960). Previously held the rank of Air marshal. | [8] |
5 | ![]() |
Thanom Kittikachorn | 1911–2004 | 1964 | Prime Minister of Thailand (January to October 1958 and from 1963 to 1973). Held the post of Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters. Also received the rank of Field Marshal and Admiral of the Fleet at the same time. Previously held the rank of General in the army. | [9][10] |
6 | ![]() |
Praphas Charusathien | 1912–1997 | 1973 | Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand (1958–1958). Also received the rank of Field Marshal and Admiral of the Fleet at the same time. Held the post of Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army. Previously held the rank of General in the army. | [11][12] |
7 | ![]() |
Queen Regent Sirikit of Thailand | 1932–present | 1992 | Consort of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Also received the rank of Field Marshal and Admiral of the Fleet at the same time. Possibly the only female in history to attain such ranks. | [13] |
See also
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal Thai Air Force air marshals.
- Military ranks of the Thai armed forces
- Field marshal (Thailand) (Chom Phon): equivalent rank in the Royal Thai Army
- Admiral of the fleet (Thailand) (Chom Phon Ruea): equivalent rank in the Royal Thai Navy
- Marshal of the air force
- Head of the Royal Thai Armed Forces