[1][2] In 1940 during World War II and while still an undergraduate, Sir Herbert was recruited by C P Snow to work on the newly established Chain Home radar system and he was later commissioned into the technical branch of the RAF Volunteer Reserve on 24 October 1941.

Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant on 16 September 1948, he worked at the Central Bomber Establishment until 1950.

After attending RAF Staff College in 1953, a year-long posting as Command Signals Officer, AHQ Iraq followed.

He was Assistant Chief of Staff (Communications-Electronics) at the Second Allied Tactical Air Force HQ in Germany from 1962 and then Commandant at the No.

In 1967 Sir Herbert became Director of Engineering Policy (RAF) at the Ministry of Defence, then he was appointed Air Officer Commanding No.