Editing Air marshal (section)

=== Origins ===
Prior to the adoption of RAF-specific rank titles in 1919, 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 air marshal would have been air vice-admiral. The Admiralty objected to any use of their rank titles, including this modified form, and so an alternative proposal was put forward: [[air officer|air-officer]] ranks would be based on the term "ardian", which was derived from a combination of the [[Goidelic languages|Gaelic]] words for "chief" ({{lang|gd|ard}}) and "bird" ({{lang|gd|eun}}), with the term "second ardian" or "wing ardian" being used specifically for the rank equivalent to a vice-admiral and lieutenant-general. However, air marshal was preferred and has been used since its adoption 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 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> [[Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard|Sir Hugh Trenchard]], the incumbent [[Chief of the Air Staff (United_Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]] when the rank was introduced, became the first air marshal on 11 August 1919.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Trenchard.htm |title=Marshal of the RAF The Viscount Trenchard of Wolfeton |website=Air of Authority &ndash; A History of RAF Organisation |access-date=November 15, 2020 |date=July 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Probert |first=Henry |author-link=Henry Probert |title=High Commanders of the Royal Air Force |chapter=The Viscount Trenchard |year=1991 |publisher=[[Her Majesty's Stationery Office]] |location=London |isbn=9780117726352}}</ref>