Brigadier General
Richard Rohmer, Senior Canadian Air Reserve Advisor
Our 1976 Speaker was Brigadier General Richard Rohmer, Senior Canadian Air Reserve Advisor.
Major-General (Ret'd) Richard Heath Rohmer, OC, CMM, DFC, O.Ont., K.StJ, CD, Of.L, QC, BA, LLB, JD, LLD, UEL, Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur (born 1924) is an aviator, a senior lawyer (aviation law), adviser to business leaders and the Government of Ontario, a prolific author and historian, and Canada's most decorated citizen.
Rohmer was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and spent some of his early youth in Pasadena, California as well as in western Ontario at Windsor and Fort Erie. The Peterborough Examiner's lead editorial of 14 January 2009 describes Rohmer as "one of Canada's most colourful figures of the past half-century."
He was an unexceptional student in high school and worked briefly at Fleet Aerospace before joining, at 18, the Royal Canadian Air Force (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 Lt. Charlie Fox, a Canadian flying with 412 Squadron, who strafed the staff car and forced Rommel essentially out of the war. This incident is considered by many as a turning point for the allies in Europe.
Rohmer later took part in the liberation of France, Belgium and Holland. For his efforts he was awarded many medals and honors including: the Distinguished Flying Cross, Officer of the Order of Leopold (Belgium), and the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor (France).
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.
Rohmer has written over 20 books including: Separation, Separation 2, Ultimatum, Balls, and Triad. His newest book, Ultimatum 2 is very timely, as it deals with sovereignty of Canada’s north.
He was appointed a Commander of the Order of Military Merit in December, 1978, and left the military effective February, 1981. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1990.
