[2] Hodson was commissioned as a probationary temporary second lieutenant on the General List for service in the Royal Flying Corps on 9 September 1917.

[5] Flying a Sopwith Camel single seat fighter, he gained his first four aerial victories between 10 and 31 March 1918.

213 Squadron RAF in August 1918,[5] and gaining six more victories between 18 September and 14 October 1918, including three aircraft in a single day.

[12] He finally returned to the UK, being assigned as a supernumerary at the RAF Depot on 14 February 1928,[13] and on 30 July was posted to No.

602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force,[16] to serve as adjutant and instructor.

[5][17] On 1 August 1935 Hodson was promoted to squadron leader,[18] and on 1 October he was appointed Chief Flying Instructor at No.

His exchange posting with the Royal New Zealand Air Force was altered to special duty on 6 April 1940,[23] and on 1 December 1940 he was promoted to the temporary rank of group captain.

[24] He eventually left Wigram in June 1942,[21] and in recognition of his efforts was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the King's Birthday Honours the same month.

[5][30] He was confirmed in his rank of as group captain on 23 January 1945 with seniority from 1 June 1944,[31] and on 23 February was appointed AOC, No.

[35] On 1 April he was appointed Air Officer in Charge of Administration at the Headquarters of Coastal Command.

During this posting, he was in charge of relocating airfields in Egypt from the Nile Delta south along the shores of the Suez Canal.