Squadron Leader

From The Great Machine

In Babylon 5, Squadron Leader appears to refer to those of any rank who lead a squadron.

• Warren Keffer was promoted to Squadron Leader in early 2259 after Zeta Leader was killed in hyperspace. (S2E04, A Distant Star)

• Jeffrey Sinclair was promoted to Squadron Leader in 2241 (after being promoted to Fighter Pilot in 2240). (S1E08, And the Sky Full of Stars)

Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) is a commissioned rank in some air forces. A Squadron Leader ranks above Flight Lieutenant and immediately below Wing Commander. It has a NATO ranking code of OF-3, equivalent to a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy or a Major in the British Army or the Royal Marines.

Before the Second World War, a Squadron Leader commanded a squadron of aircraft. Today, however, a flying squadron is usually commanded by a Wing Commander, with each of the two flights under a Squadron Leader. However, squadrons which are administrative sub-divisions of a Wing are ordinarily commanded by a Squadron Leader.

See Also: Earthforce ranks