As a bomber pilot in the Second World War, he was shot down and spent time in Stalag Luft III as "Big S", responsible for the security of the escape committee.
He was later transferred to Stalag Luft III, where he was made responsible for security under the leader of the escape committee "Big X".
Stalag Luft III was made famous by the daring mass break-out through tunnels depicted in the film The Great Escape.
[3] Following this, he attended the Imperial Defence College[3] and then became Commandant at the RAF Staff College in 1965[3] before becoming Assistant Chief of the Air Staff responsible for operational requirements,[3] the role that made him famous for a report detailing the career structure for RAF officers and recommending a meritocracy over the existing class structure,[4] in 1966.
[3] Hodgkinson also had a leading role in the development of modern front-line aircraft and equipment, most notably the Panavia Tornado.