Hugh Constantine

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.

Sir Hugh Constantine
Nickname(s)	Connie
Born	23 May 1908 Southsea, Hampshire
Died	16 April 1992 (aged 83)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1926–1964
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Commands held	Imperial Defence College (1961–64) Flying Training Command (1959–61) No. 25 (Training) Group (1954–56) No. 5 (Bomber) Group (1945) RAF Elsham Wolds (1941–42) No. 214 Squadron (1939)
Battles/wars	Second World War
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches (5) Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (Poland)

RAF career

Educated at Christ's Hospital,[1] Constantine joined the Royal Air force as a cadet in 1926.[2] Early in his career, as a flight lieutenant, he commanded Number 3 Section of No.1 Armoured Car Company RAF.[2]

Constantine served in the Second World War 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 Constantine 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 Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe 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 Constantine was granted an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Warwick.[3]

Family

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

References

1. Fell, David William. "Hugh Constantine". www.northlincsweb.net. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
2. Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Constantine
3. Honorary Graduates University of Warwick