Patrick Hine

Sir Patrick Bardon Hine (born 14 July 1932) is a former senior Royal Air Force commander. Most notably, he was joint commander of all British forces during the Gulf War.

RAF career Hine was born near Southampton on 14 July 1932. He was educated at Peter Symonds School in Winchester. He entered the RAF on a National Service commission as an acting pilot officer on probation on 22 March 1951, and was regraded as a pilot officer on 6 February 1952. He was commissioned as a pilot officer on 14 October 1952 (seniority from 6 February 1952), and promoted to flying officer on 20 March 1953. He was appointed to a permanent commission in the RAF on 1 October 1953, in the rank of flying officer.

As a junior officer, Hine flew the Gloster Meteor and then the Hawker Hunter. From 1957 to 1959 he performed on the Black Arrows, then the RAF's aerobatics display team, at Farnborough in 1958. He was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in the 1960 Birthday Honours List. He was promoted to squadron leader on 1 July 1962 and appointed Officer Commanding No. 92 Squadron. and was promoted to group captain on 1 January 1972.

On 1 July 1975, he was promoted to air commodore and was appointed Director of Public Relations for the RAF. and was appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Policy) at the Ministry of Defence the next year.

Promoted to air chief marshal on 1 July 1985, he became Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff that year.

Hine was appointed Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Strike Command in 1988. He was promoted to a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1989 New Year Honours List.

He was Joint Commander of all British forces during the Gulf War. He was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in the 1991 Birthday Honours List.

Hine retired from the RAF in 1991 and subsequently became a military advisor to British Aerospace from which he retired in April 1999.

Hine's home course is Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club in Hampshire where he is the Club President. He also had a prolific amateur golfing career and won the Carris Trophy (England U18 Stroke Play Championship) and the Brabazon Trophy (England Amateur Stoke Play Champion) in 1949. He also won the Hampshire County Championship in that year. In addition, Hine represented England in the England–Scotland boys match in 1948 and 1949.

Personal life Hine and his wife, Jill, have three sons.

Awards and honors

In 1991, Hine was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire at that year's Birthday Honours List.

Amateur wins

1949 Carris Trophy, Hampshire County Championship, Brabazon Trophy

Team appearances

England–Scotland boys match (representing England): 1948 (winners), 1949