Philippa Marshall
Air Commodore Philippa Frances Marshall CB OBE (4 November 1920 – 4 February 2005) was a British Royal Air Force officer, who served as Director of the Women's Royal Air Force from 1969 to 1973.
Philippa Marshall | |
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Birth name | Philippa Frances Marshall |
Born | Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England | 4 November 1920
Died | 4 February 2005 84) | (aged
Allegiance | |
Service/ | |
Years of service | 1941–1973 |
Rank | Air commodore |
Service number | 4937 |
Battles/wars | Second World War |
Biography
Marshall was born on 4 November 1920 in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. She was educated at St Dominic's High School for Girls, an all-girls independent school in Stoke-on-Trent.[1]
In 1941, Marshall joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF).[1] On 10 June 1942, she was commissioned as an assistant section officer (equivalent in rank to pilot officer) on probation.[2] With the creation of the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) in 1949, she was transferred into the WRAF as a flight officer (equivalent to flight lieutenant) on 1 February 1949 with seniority in that rank from 10 December 1946.[3]
She was promoted to squadron officer (equivalent to squadron leader) on 1 July 1953,[4] to wing officer (equivalent to wing commander) on 1 January 1964,[5] and to group officer (equivalent to group captain) on 1 July 1966.[6] From 1968 to 1969, she served as commanding admin officer at RAF Strike Command.[1] In 1969, she was appointed Director of the Women's Royal Air Force in succession to Dame Felicity Hill.[1] On 1 July 1969, she was promoted to air commodore, hereby becoming the most senior ranking woman in the Royal Air Force.[7] She stepped down as director in July 1973 to be succeeded by Molly Allott,[8] and retired on 1 September 1973.[9]
Marshall died on 4 February 2005, aged 84.[1]
Honours
In the 1956 New Year Honours, Marshall was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).[10] In the 1971, she was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).[11]
References
- "Marshall, Air Cdre Philippa Frances". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U26753.
- "No. 35615". The London Gazette. 30 June 1942. p. 2889.
- "No. 38661". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 July 1949. p. 3391.
- "No. 39900". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 June 1953. p. 3609.
- "No. 43210". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1963. p. 79.
- "No. 44039". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 June 1966. p. 7467.
- "No. 44885". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 July 1969. p. 6791.
- "No. 46034". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 July 1973. p. 8673.
- "No. 46073". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 September 1973. p. 10818.
- "No. 40669". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1955. p. 9.
- "No. 45384". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1971. pp. 5958–59.
External links
Military offices | ||
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Preceded by Dame Felicity Hill |
Director of the Women's Royal Air Force 1969 to 1973 |
Succeeded by Molly Allott |