Hugh Constantine

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Sir Hugh Constantine
Nickname	Connie
Born	23 May 1908 Southsea, Hampshire
Died	16 April 1992
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1926-1964
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Commands held	No. 214 Squadron RAF Elsham Wolds No. 5 Group No. 25 (Training) Group Flying Training Command Imperial Defence College
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order

Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Alex Constantine KBE CB DSO (23 May 1908 – 16 April 1992) was a Royal Air Force officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Flying Training Command.

RAF career

Educated at Christ's Hospital,^[1] Constantine joined the Royal Air force as a cadet in 1926.^[2] He served in World War II initially as Officer Commanding No. 214 Squadron and then as Station Commander at RAF Elsham Wolds.^[2] He continued his war service as Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters No. 1 Group in 1942, as Deputy Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters RAF Bomber Command in 1943 and as Air Officer Commanding No. 5 Group in 1945.^[2] In this capacity he worked closely with Barnes Wallis and used Grand Slam bombs and Tallboy bombs against key industrial targets in Germany.^[1]

After the War he became Chief Intelligence Officer with the Control Commission in Germany and was then appointed Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters No. 205 Group.^[2] He went on to be Director of Intelligence (Operations) at the Air Ministry in 1951, Air Officer Administration at Headquarters RAF Fighter Command in 1952 and Air Officer Commanding No. 25 (Training) Group in 1954.^[2] His final posts were as Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans & Policy at Headquarters SHAPE in 1956, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Flying Training Command in 1959 and Commandant of the Imperial Defence College in 1961 before retiring in 1964.^[2]

In retirement he was made an honorary Doctor of Laws at the University of Warwick.^[3]

Family

In 1937 he became married to Helen; they had one daughter.^[1]

Honours and awards

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire - 1 Jan 1958 (CBE - 8 Jun 1944)
Companion of the Order of the Bath - 1 Jan 1946
Distinguished Service Order - 22 Sep 1942
Mentioned in Despatches - 23 Jul 1937, 24 Sep 1941, 11 Jun 1942, 1 Jan 1945, 194?
Polonia Restituta, 3rd Class (Poland) - 12 Jun 1945
Doctor of Laws (Hon) (Warwick) - 1978.

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Obituary: Sir Hugh Constantine
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Constantine
↑ Honorary Graduates University of Warwick

Military offices
Preceded by Sir Richard Atcherley	Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Flying Training Command 1959–1961	Succeeded by Sir Augustus Walker
Preceded by Sir Robert Scott	Commandant of the Imperial Defence College 1961–1964	Succeeded by Sir Deric Holland-Martin

Persondata
Name	Constantine, Hugh
Alternative names
Short description	Royal Air Force air marshals
Date of birth	23 May 1908
Place of birth	Southsea, Hampshire
Date of death	16 April 1992
Place of death

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