Educated at Highgate School,[1] Selway joined the Royal Air Force as a cadet in 1927.
14 Squadron in 1938 just before the Second World War and served in that role until October 1940 when he joined the Air Staff at Headquarters No.
He transferred to the Air Staff (Operations) at Headquarters RAF Middle East in 1941 before becoming Chief Flying Instructor at the Empire Central Flying Training School in 1942 and Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters No.
He went on to be Station Commander at RAF Aston Down in 1944 and Senior Officer Administration at Headquarters No.
[2][3] He concluded his career as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Coastal Command in 1962[4] before retiring in 1965.