 During World War II, he served as Deputy Director-General of Air Services from 1939 to 1940, as commander of 3 Wing in North Africa from 1941 to 1942, as Director of the Coastal Air Force from 1942 to 1944, and as Deputy Director-General of the Air Force from 1944 to 1945, when he was promoted to Director-General.After the war, he served as Officer Commanding Natal Command, and finally as Air Chief of Staff, from 17 October 1945 to 10 September 1946.He was appointed Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the January 1943 New Years Honours list.