General of the Air Force
In the hierarchy of the United States military, few distinctions are as rare as the five-star rank. The General of the Air Force (GAF) represents the highest possible rank within the United States Air Force. Positioned immediately above a four-star general, this prestigious grade is equivalent to the General of the Army in the U.S. Army and the Fleet Admiral in the U.S. Navy.
Despite its status, the rank is unique because it has been held by only one individual in history: General Henry H. Arnold. The trajectory of this rank is deeply intertwined with the evolution of the Air Force as an independent service branch.
Key Facts
- Only Holder: General Henry H. Arnold is the sole person to have held this rank.
- NATO Code: It is classified under NATO rank code OF-10.
- Pay Grade: The rank is designated as a Special grade.
- Equivalent Ranks: It is equal to a five-star General of the Army or Fleet Admiral.
- Current Status: The rank remains active and can be bestowed by the U.S. Congress or the President with Senate consent.
The History of General Henry H. Arnold
The origin of the General of the Air Force rank begins during World War II. At the time, the Air Force was not a separate branch but operated as the United States Army Air Forces. On December 21, 1944, Henry H. Arnold, the commanding general of the Army Air Forces, became the first airman promoted to the five-star rank of General of the Army.
Arnold was one of five men promoted to General of the Army at that time, alongside George C. Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Omar Bradley. Simultaneously, the Navy promoted four admirals to the rank of Fleet Admiral: William D. Leahy, Ernest King, Chester W. Nimitz, and William Halsey Jr.
When the United States Air Force officially gained independence from the Army on September 18, 1947, Arnold retained his five-star status. Later, on May 7, 1949, under Public Law 81–58, his rank was officially redesignated as General of the Air Force. This transition made Arnold the only member of the U.S. Armed Forces to hold a five-star rank in two different services and the only airman to ever achieve five-star status.
Rank Hierarchy and Equivalencies
The General of the Air Force sits at the apex of the standard USAF officer structure. While it is the highest rank typically associated with the service, there is one rank in the entire U.S. Armed Forces that is senior to it: General of the Armies. This extraordinary rank has been granted to only three individuals: George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, and John J. Pershing.
The following table provides a summary of the General of the Air Force's position within the military structure:
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | GAF |
| Rank Group | General officer |
| NATO Rank Code | OF-10 |
| Equivalent Army Rank | General of the Army |
| Equivalent Navy Rank | Fleet Admiral |
| Formation Date | May 7, 1949 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the only person to hold the rank of General of the Air Force?
General Henry H. Arnold is the only individual to have held this rank.
Is the General of the Air Force rank still active?
Yes, the Air Force considers it an active rank. It can be bestowed at the discretion of the United States Congress, or by the President with the consent of the Senate.
How does this rank compare to a four-star general?
The General of the Air Force is a five-star rank and is immediately senior to the rank of general (four-star).
What rank is higher than General of the Air Force?
The only rank senior to General of the Air Force in the U.S. Armed Forces is General of the Armies.
Why was Henry Arnold first a General of the Army?
At the time of his initial five-star promotion in 1944, the Air Force was still a component of the U.S. Army rather than an independent branch.