Richard Rohmer - Military Career

Military Career

He was an unexceptional student in high school and worked briefly at Fleet Aerospace before joining, at 18, the RCAF early in World War II. He flew P-51 Mustang fighters and was taking part in the Battle of Normandy as a fighter reconnaissance pilot when he spotted what appeared to be a staff car, usually used to carry German officers. In this case, the German officer being carried was Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. Rohmer reported the car's location to Group Control Centre, which sent in a Spitfire flown by a pilot (Rohmer knows he was not a Canadian) who strafed the target and wounded Rommel. Rohmer later took part in the liberation of France, Belgium and Holland.

In 1950 he returned to the RCAF (Reserve), flying Vampire jets and commanding 400 Squadron (City of Toronto) and 411 Squadron (County of York). He retired in 1953 as a Wing Commander.

In 1971 he was appointed Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel (and later Honorary Colonel) of 411 Air Reserve Squadron. In April, 1975 he was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Senior Air Reserve Advisor. On April 1, 1976 he was appointed Commander of the newly formed Air Reserve Group. On January 31, 1978 he was promoted to the rank of Major-General and appointed Chief of Reserves. He was appopinted a Commander of the Order of Military Merit in December, 1978, and left the military effective February, 1981.