At the end of the War, Humphrey joined the Air Staff at Headquarters British Air Forces South East Asia, before transferring to the Air Staff at Headquarters No. 106 Group at RAF Benson, where he learnt the art of photographic reconnaissance, in August 1946. He was confirmed in the rank of squadron leader on a permanent basis on 1 August 1947. He became a Flight Commander with No. 82 Squadron flying Lancasters and Dakotas in an aerial mapping role in Africa in September 1948 and went on to be an instructor at the RAF Flying College at Manby in May 1951. Having been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1951 New Year Honours and promoted to wing commander on 1 July 1951, he became a senior instructor there in February 1953. In December 1953, Humphrey piloted "Aries IV", a Canberra B.2, from Cape Town to London in a then record 13 hours 16 minutes and 25 seconds.