His career was cut short by a serious flying accident in January 1939 so until 1945 he was appointed Air Liaison Officer to the Regional Commission for Scotland.

The elder brother, Wing Commander Thomas Reginald Cave-Brown-Cave (1885–1964), also served with distinction in the Royal Air Force but initially in airships.

Henry's elder brother, Thomas Reginald Cave-Browne-Cave CBE, also educated at Dulwich College and a Royal Navy engineering officer, specialised in airship research and design.

The Far East Flight was a newly created unit and it was established to prove that the RAF had the capability to reinforce the more remote parts of the British Empire.

Cave-Browne-Cave then took the Far East Flight on a flying tour of Australia further demonstrating the increasing reach of British air power.

Back at the Air Ministry in London, Cave-Browne-Cave is credited as being the person who authorised the GBP 10,000 investment in the development of the Supermarine Spitfire in time for it to be the decisive fighter in the Battle of Britain.