Commandant (rank) rank, above "adjudant-chef". In the Spanish Army and Spanish Air Force, the rank of "comandante" is senior to a captain and junior to a lieutenant colonel, making it equivalent to the rank of major or squadron leader in English-speaking countries. "Comandante" ("commandant") is a military officer rank used in some Latin American countries. The Chilean Air Force uses the rank of "comandante de escuadrilla" ("squadron commandant") as a rank equivalent to the British rank of squadron leader. The Peruvian Air Force uses the rank of "comandante" as an equivalent to lieutenant-colonel or wing commander. "Comandante" can be translated into English
Squadron leader it was suggested that the RAF might use the Royal Navy's officer ranks, with the word "air" inserted before the naval rank title. For example, the rank that later became squadron leader would have been air lieutenant commander. However, the Admiralty objected to this modification of their rank titles. The rank title squadron leader was chosen as squadrons were typically led by RAF majors and the term squadron commander had been used in the Royal Naval Air Service. The rank of squadron leader has been used continuously since 1 August 1919. From 1 April 1918 to 31 July 1919, the