Wing commander
Wing commander (Wg Cdr or W/C) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force.[1] The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence.
"Wing Commander" redirects here. For the video game franchise, see Wing Commander (franchise). For other uses, see Wing Commander (disambiguation).
Wing commander is immediately senior to squadron leader and immediately below group captain. It is usually equivalent to the rank of commander in the navy and of the rank of lieutenant colonel in other services.
The equivalent rank in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force and the Women's Royal Air Force (until 1968) and in Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (until 1980) was wing officer. The equivalent rank in the Royal Observer Corps (until 1995) was observer commander, which had a similar rank insignia.
Wing commander
Wg Cdr / WGCDR / W/C
August 1919
An RAF wing commander's sleeve/shoulder insignia
An RAF wing commander's sleeve mess insignia
An RAF wing commander's sleeve on No. 1 service dress uniform
United States[edit]
United States Air Force[edit]
In the United States Air Force (USAF), a wing commander is a command billet, not a rank. The position is most often filled by a colonel (some USAF wings are commanded by a brigadier general) who typically has command of an air wing with several group commanders (also a position, not a USAF rank) reporting to him/her.
[edit]
In the United States Navy (USN), a wing commander is also a command billet, not a rank. The equivalent USN rank is a captain. Navy wing commanders are either Naval Aviators or Naval Flight Officers who typically have command of a carrier air wing or a "functional" air wing or air group such as a strike fighter wing, a patrol and reconnaissance wing, a tactical air control group, or a training air wing, with several squadron commanding officers reporting to him/her. Those officers commanding carrier air wings are called "CAG," dating back to when carrier air wings were called carrier air groups. Those officers commanding functional air wings and air groups are called "commodore." Unlike USAF, "group" commands in USN are either equal to or senior to an air wing.
Civil Air Patrol (United States Air Force Auxiliary)[edit]
The Civil Air Patrol, the volunteer auxiliary of the USAF, follows the USAF rank structure. The CAP divides the nation into 52 wings (each corresponding to a state, territory, and District of Columbia). Each wing is headed by a CAP colonel, who holds the position of wing commander.
![(Royal Australian Air Force)[7]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/British_RAF_OF-4.svg/47px-British_RAF_OF-4.svg.png){kind=small}
![(Ghana Air Force)[9]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/11.Ghana_Air_Force-LTC.svg/49px-11.Ghana_Air_Force-LTC.svg.png){kind=small}
![(Namibian Air Force)[11]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/11-Namibia_Air_Force-WGCDR.svg/59px-11-Namibia_Air_Force-WGCDR.svg.png)
![(Nigerian Air Force)[12]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Nigeria-AirForce-OF-4.svg/52px-Nigeria-AirForce-OF-4.svg.png)
![(Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard)[15]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/TaT-Air_Guard-OF-4.png/75px-TaT-Air_Guard-OF-4.png)
![(Air Force of Zimbabwe)[16]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Canadian_Air_Command_%281984-2014%29_OF-4.svg/47px-Canadian_Air_Command_%281984-2014%29_OF-4.svg.png){kind=small}