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Philippa Marshall
File:Philippa-Frances-Marshall.jpg
Birth name Philippa Frances Marshall
Born (1920-11-04)4 November 1920
Died 4 February 2005(2005-02-04) (aged 84)
Place of birth Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
Allegiance Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force Royal Air Force
Years of service 1941–1973
Rank Air commodore
Service number 4937
Battles/wars Second World War

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.

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[]

External links[]

Military offices
Preceded by
Dame Felicity Hill
Director of the Women's Royal Air Force
1969 to 1973
Succeeded by
Molly Allott
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