Captain General of the Air Force ( or ) is a five-star air force officer rank and the highest rank of the Spanish Air Force. The five-star NATO rank code is OF-10. The honorary appointments formally ceased in 1999. The rank of Air captain general is equivalent to a Marshal of the Air Force in many nations such as the United Kingdom, a general of the Air Force of the United States, a capitain general of the Spanish Army or the Navy. This rank is reserved to the monarch as Commander-in-chief. An Air captain general's insignia consists of two command sticks under five four-pointed stars below the Royal Crown and a golden string.
The Spanish Air Force as a separated branch of the Spanish Armed Forces was officially established on 7 October 1939, after the Spanish Civil War. Francisco Franco as head of Spanish state and commander-in-chief named himself 1st captain general of the Spanish Air Force. General Ángel Salas Larrazábal, a veteran fighter pilot, has been the only honorary Air captain general (1991-1994).
List of Captain generals Date of Promotion Image Name Dead/Retirement Notes 7 October 1939 Francisco Franco † 20 November 1975 Ex officio Captain general of the Army and the Navy (1938-1975) Generalissimo (1936-1975) 20 November 1975Law-Decree 16/1975, 20 November, promoting HRH the Prince of Spain to honorary captain general of the Armies. Spanish Official Journal. In Spanish Juan Carlos I Active until 19 June 2014(Abdication)Ex officio Retired since 19 June 2014 Captain general of the Army and the Navy26 April 1991 Ángel Salas LarrazábalReal Decreto 657/1991, de 26 de abril, por el que se promueve al empleo de Capitán General del Ejército del Aire, con carácter honorífico, al Teniente General, en situación de Segunda Reserva, don Angel Salas Larrazábal. Boletín Oficial del Estado † 19 July 1994 Ad honorem 19 June 2014 Felipe VI PresentEx officio Captain general of the Army and the Navy
See also Captain general Captain general of the Spanish Army Captain general of the Spanish Navy Spanish Air Force
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References
Captain General ASAVE Website.