Frank Robert Miller - Military Career

Military Career

Frank Robert Miller was born in Kamloops, British Columbia on April 30, 1908 to Hedley Miller and his wife Mary. After completing his education at the University of Alberta (where he gained a BSc) Miller joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at Camp Borden on September 15, 1931. Later in his career Miller commanded the Air Navigation School at Rivers, Manitoba and at RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge. He then commanded the General Reconnaissance School at RCAF Station Summerside before moving to the Air Force Headquarters where he served as Director of Training Plans and Requirements and then Director of Training.

In 1944 Miller, by then an air commodore, was posted to England and on September 19 he took up command of RAF Bomber Command's No. 61 Base in North Yorkshire. No 61 Base was headquartered at Topcliffe and commanded the RAF establishments at Dalton, Dishforth and Wombleton. On November 9 Millar's command was redesignated No. 76 Base and Gamston in Nottinghamshire was added as a subordinate unit. On January 13, 1945 Miller took up command of No. 63 Base which was responsible for RAF Leeming (headquarters) and RAF Skipton-on-Swale.

After the war, Miller served in several senior positions in the Royal Canadian Air Force. From 1951 to 1954 Miller was Vice-Chief of the Air Staff and he was then posted to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe as General Lauris Norstad’s Vice-Deputy Air. Gaining promotion to air marshal in 1955 he then retired from the RCAF at Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent's request to serve in the senior civil service position of Deputy Minister of National Defence, remaining in post until 1960. Returning to military service in 1960, he was appointed Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff gaining promotion to air chief marshal on 1 September 1961. Three years later he become the first Chief of the Defence Staff, serving from 1964 until 1966.

In 1972 Miller was made a Companion of the Order of Canada. He died in 1997.