Air Marshal Hugh Lester Campbell,

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

, CD (July 13, 1908 – May 25, 1987) was a Canadian air marshal in the

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...

and then a politician for

Northwest Territories The Northwest Territories is a federal Provinces and territories of Canada, territory of Canada. At a land area of approximately and a 2021 census population of 41,070, it is the second-largest and the most populous of Provinces and territorie ...

, Canada.

Career

Educated at the

University of New Brunswick The University of New Brunswick (UNB) is a public university with two primary campuses in Fredericton and Saint John, New Brunswick. It is the oldest English language, English-language university in Canada, and among the oldest public universiti ...

, Campbell was commissioned into the

in 1931. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Campbell served as the Director of Air Staff at the RCAF Overseas Headquarters. In his capacity as Director, on one occasion, Campbell was inspecting air force units in

North Africa North Africa (sometimes Northern Africa) is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region. However, it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of t ...

when his jeep drove over a mine and Campbell was wounded. Returning to Canada, in January 1944 Campbell was appointed as Assistant to the Chief of the Air Staff at the

Headquarters in

Ottawa Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...

. The following April he became Air Member for Personal on promotion to

air vice-marshal Air vice-marshal (Air Vce Mshl or AVM) is an air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometime ...

remaining at Ottawa. In 1952 Campbell was appointed as the first Air Officer Commanding the Canadian Air Division in Europe. He retained this post until 1955 and during his years in command Canada's European commitment to NATO rose to 12 squadrons. From 1955 to 1957 he was the Vice Air Deputy at

Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) is the military headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Allied Command Operations (ACO) that commands all NATO operations worldwide. SHAPE is situated in the villag ...

. He was appointed Chief of the Air Staff in 1957, holding the post until 1962 when he retired. Following his service career Campbell entered politics. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Northwest Territories being appointed to the council to serve as an at-large member three times from 1964 to 1975. He died in Ottawa on May 25, 1987.Hugh Campbell tribute ''Canadian Parliamentary Review'' 1987
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Campbell, Hugh Royal Canadian Air Force air marshals of World War II 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories 1908 births 1987 deaths Canadian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Canadian military personnel from New Brunswick