Hey! I Outrank You! Trivia Quiz

The first person to hold this highest rank in the RAF was Sir Hugh Trenchard, one of the pioneers of the flying service. Although the rank had existed since 1919, it was not until 1927 that Trenchard received promotion to this rank. As well as senior professional RAF officers, the rank has also been held by members of the Royal Family, including King Charles III and his father the Duke of Edinburgh.

Marshal of the RAF is considered a "five star" rank, equivalent to an American five star General, a British army Field Marshal and an Admiral of the Fleet (RN) or Fleet Admiral (USN).

Vice Admiral is considered a "three star" rank in the US Navy, and the Royal Navy rank is its equivalent. A holder of this rank is junior to a full Admiral and outranks a Rear Admiral. The equivalent in the army and US Air Force is Lieutenant General, whilst the RAF has Air Marshal at this level.

Vice Admiral Lancelot Holland RN was flying his flag in HMS Hood when that ship was sunk by the German ship Bismarck in May 1941, and was lost with the ship.

The rank has existed in the Royal Navy since the 16th century, and in the USN since the mid-nineteenth century. In modern times the rank in both services bears the NATO designation OF-8.

Brigadier-General is the lowest general rank, described as a "one star" rank. At times, in the British army, the rank has been styled simply "Brigadier" but I've chosen to use the longer version here to avoid confusion with the non-commissioned rank which exists with the shorter title in some European countries' military rank systems.

One of the most senior officers to receive the Victoria Cross during the First World War was Brigadier-General Clifford Coffin of the Royal Engineers, who exposed himself to heavy fire in order to encourage his troops in the line near Westhoek, Belgium, on the last day of July 1917.

The next most senior rank is Major General, with a full Colonel ranking just below. The RAF equivalent is Air Commodore, whilst in the navy it would be Commodore (or possibly Rear Admiral, Lower Half).

The rank of Group Captain has been used in the RAF since 1919, and is the equivalent of a naval Captain or a full Colonel in the army, all of which have the NATO rank code of OF-5.

Group Captain Lionel Mandrake is one of the multiple characters portrayed by Peter Sellers in "Doctor Strangelove..." (1964), while real life holders of the rank include Battle of Britain pilot Peter Townsend, once romantically linked with Princess Margaret, and Herbert Massey, the real Senior British Officer at Stalag Luft III during the Great Escape.

The rank directly junior to Group Captain in the RAF is Wing Commander, while the naval and army officers next below are Commander and Lieutenant Colonel respectively.

Major is the lowest "field" rank in the US and UK armies, and also the US Air Force (amongst others), holding a NATO grade of OF-3. Its naval equivalent is Lieutenant Commander, whilst the RAF rank is Squadron Leader.

One fictional character of note, who held this rank, is Major Major Major Major who is found in Joseph Heller's novel "Catch-22". As to real holders of the rank, one might recall Major John Andre, the British army officer who liaised with Benedict Arnold in 1780.

Majors fit between Lieutenant Colonels (above them) and army Captains (just below) in the system of ranks.

Ensign is the lowest ranking commissioned officer in the US Navy, and has been so since 1862. The most junior British army officers were also given this rank at one time, though since 1871 this has not been the case, with Second Lieutenant being the modern army equivalent in both the US and UK. The Royal Air Force has Pilot Officer as its most junior officer, whilst there is no true equivalent in the Royal Navy.

The rank of Ensign always brings to mind Jack Lemmon's Oscar-winning role of Ensign Frank Pulver in "Mister Roberts" (1955). One could also consider Ensign John J. Parle USN, who was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor for his bravery when in command of landing craft during the invasion of Sicily in 1943.

The rank immediately senior to Ensign in the USN is Lieutenant (junior grade).

Regimental Sergeant Major is an appointment held by a Warrant Officer First Class in the army of the UK and various other countries. The RSM is likely to be the most experienced and most capable soldier in the unit and should be addressed as "Sir" by his subordinates. The US army equivalent is Command Sergeant Major.

RSM Ronald Brittain (1899-1981) may be the most famous holder of this appointment, having appeared in a number of training films during the Second World War, and possibly more noticeably, on recordings of military marches released after that war. His voice, said to have been the "loudest in Britain", can be heard barking orders before the band begins to play. I have had the pleasure of owning one of these recordings.

The NATO code for a senior warrant officer, including an RSM, is OR-9.

Flight Sergeant is a senior non-commissioned officer in the Royal Air Force, and others that follow the RAF model. Its equivalent in the Royal Navy is Chief Petty Officer, and in the British army either Staff Sergeant or Colour Sergeant.

Flight Sergeant R.H. (Ron) Middleton, of the Royal Australian Air Force, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for his efforts to save the crew of his Stirling bomber, returning from a raid on Turin in November 1943.

The NATO rating for this rank is OR-7, which includes Sergeant First Class in the US army, First Sergeant and Master Sergeant in the US Air Force, Gunnery Sergeant in the US Marine Corps and Chief Petty Officer in the USN.

Not to be confused with the USA(A)F aircrew member who drops bombs on the enemy (and is usually an officer), this Bombardier is the Royal Artillery equivalent of a Corporal, which carries a NATO designation of OR-4. The artillery rank has existed at least since the 16th century.

Bombardier Daniel Cambridge, who retired with the rank of Master Gunner, received a Victoria Cross for his bravery at Sebastopol in September 1855, during the Crimean War.

In the Royal Navy the equivalent would be a Leading Rate (Seaman, Telegraphist, etc.) and in the USN it's a Petty Officer Third Class.

Able Seaman has existed as a rank in the Royal Navy since the 1650s. Though it is a junior rank (hovering between OR-1 and OR-2 on NATO rank charts), a sailor was only given this rating after at least two years experience at sea, with the less experienced Ordinary Seaman and/or Landsman even lower down the chain. In more modern times the rank has been replaced by Sailor Second Class in some navies.

Able Seaman William Savage RN was awarded the Victoria Cross for his part in the raid on St Nazaire, France in March 1942.

Equivalent ranks in the RAF and USAF would be Leading Aircraftman and Airman First Class, respectively.