Career
Wykeham-Barnes joined the Royal Air Force as an apprentice in 1932. He served in World World War II as a Flight Commander with Number. 274 Squadron and as Officer Commanding Number.
73 Squadron before commanding the fighters at Headquarters Desert Air Force.
He continued his war service Officer Commanding Number. 257 Squadron and then as Officer Commanding Number.
23 Squadron before becoming Sector Commander at Royal Air Force Kenley and then commanding Number. 140 Wing. Remaining in the Royal Air Force after the War, Wykeham-Barnes was employed as a test pilot before serving with the United States Air Force Fifth Air Force in the Korean War.
He went on to join the Air Staff (Operations) at Headquarters Royal Air Force Fighter Command in 1956 and became Director of Fighter & Theatre Air Force Operations in 1958.
He served as Air Officer Commanding Number. 38 Group from 1960, the Director of the Joint Warfare Staff from 1962, the Commander of the Far East Air Force from 1964 and the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff from 1967 before retiring in 1969.