Background
Hamblin was born on 16 December 1906 at Fyzabad in India.
Hamblin was born on 16 December 1906 at Fyzabad in India.
In 1930 he attended the Electrical and Wireless School to train as a signals officer
17 Squadron Royal Air Force flying the Hawker Hurricane during the Battle of Britain. Hamblin joined the Royal Air Force in 1926 as a flight cadet. On 30 July 1926 he was posted to Number.
56 Squadron Royal Air Force as a pilot.
In October 1932 he was posted to Number. 31 Squadron Royal Air Force in India eventually becoming a flight commander with Number.
5 Squadron Royal Air Force and was promoted to Squadron Leader before leaving India. In 1938 he was appointed commanding officer of Number.
142 Squadron Royal Air Force operating the Fairey Battle, this was followed by a staff appointment in the Deputy Directorate of War Organisation.
During the Battle of Britain he flew operations with Number. 17 Squadron Royal Air Force. In November 1941 he was appointed Officer Commanding Number. 85 Squadron Royal Air Force operating the Douglas Havoc.
On 12 November 1942 Hamblin married a Women"s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) Elizabeth Bond at Durham Cathedral.
Hamblin was mentioned in dispatched four times during the war and was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1946. After the war he was back to staff duties including officer commanding AHQ West Africa, AOA at Number.
2 Group and Director of Personnel from 1954 until he retired in 1956 as an Air Commodore. Hamblin died on 30 August 1988 in Hampshire.
