Flying Over a German Staff Car (1 of 2)

Heroes Remember

Flying Over a German Staff Car (1 of 2)

We did our Battle of Normandy in support of the army, British Army. We were a Canadian wing, we worked with the British Army. But it’s a very strong feeling of camaraderie, and mutual support. When you’re in the air with another person or three others and their job is to defend you and make sure that you’re not, if you’re attacked that you know that you’re being attacked or they’re there to defend you, or you’re there to defend the leader. This is a very high responsibility one person to the other. And on the other hand, all people are different persons and they have different personalities and some are more compatible than others. But the reality is you’re there to protect your brother and it worked very well for, for us all the way through. So during the period of the Battle of Normandy we operated out of this place B8 and I’ve been back there many times all to the same place. And my first important exercise out of B8 occurred on July the 17th, and I didn’t know about it until after a lot of research was done after the war. And I was leading a section of four Mustangs in a reconnaissance out to the east from the beach head. Then south towards a place called Saint Pierre Sur Dives south-east of Caen. So I’m leading a section of four, it’s late in the afternoon and I’m low, 1500-2000 feet but as I come down south I see ahead of me on a road over to the left a staff car with its top down.

Mr. Rohmer talks about flying a Recce over Normandy and spotting a German staff car.

Richard Heath Rohmer

Major General Rohmer was born in Hamilton, Ontario on January 24, 1924. He enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force on his eighteenth birthday. He had received some training in Canada before being shipped overseas to Bournemouth for further training on both Spitfires and Mustangs. He chose to fly a Mustang and was finally able to get into operations in the Fall of 1944.

General Rohmer provided reconnaissance for D-Day, the Falaise Gap and the Liberation of the Netherlands.

After the war, General Rohmer instructed Spitfire pilots on how to attack in the air at Gunnery Instructor School and later went back to college in Ontario, Canada. After graduating from college he went on to practice law. General Rohmer has received several awards throughout his illustrious career including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Canada Defence Medal and is an Officer of the Order of Canada just to name a few. General Rohmer is also a best selling author.