 He was Director of Air and Technical Services, i.e.head of the SAAF, from 1937 until the outbreak of World War II in 1939, when he was appointed Officer Commanding SAAF Headquarters.During the war, he was Inspector of the SAAF in 1940, senior SAAF officer in East Africa from 1940 to 1941, and Air Officer Commanding 24 Group from 1941.