Philippa Marshall

Philippa Marshall
Birth namePhilippa Frances Marshall
Born(1920-11-04)4 November 1920
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
Died4 February 2005(2005-02-04) (aged 84)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch Royal Air Force
Years of service1941–1973
RankAir commodore
Service number4937
Battles / warsSecond 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 private 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 to 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, 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

  1. ^ a b c d e "Marshall, Air Cdre Philippa Frances". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U26753.
  2. ^ "No. 35615". The London Gazette. 30 June 1942. p. 2889.
  3. ^ "No. 38661". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 July 1949. p. 3391.
  4. ^ "No. 39900". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 June 1953. p. 3609.
  5. ^ "No. 43210". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1963. p. 79.
  6. ^ "No. 44039". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 June 1966. p. 7467.
  7. ^ "No. 44885". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 July 1969. p. 6791.
  8. ^ "No. 46034". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 July 1973. p. 8673.
  9. ^ "No. 46073". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 September 1973. p. 10818.
  10. ^ "No. 40669". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1955. p. 9.
  11. ^ "No. 45384". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1971. pp. 5958–59.
Military offices
Preceded by Director of the Women's Royal Air Force
1969 to 1973 		Succeeded by