11 Facts About Frederick Rosier

Rosier, a railway engine driver, Fred Rosier was educated at Grove Park School and played rugby for North Wales Schoolboys.

Frederick Rosier received a Short Service Commission in the Royal Air Force in 1935 and served with No 43 Squadron flying Hawker Fury aircraft at Tangmere from 1936 to 1939.

Frederick Rosier was a flight commander with No 229 Squadron RAF by May 1940, having helped form and convert the squadron from the Bristol Blenheim aircraft.

Frederick Rosier first saw active service during the Second World War in France where he commanded a detachment of No 229 Squadron at Vitry-en-Artois near Arras and was shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf 109, receiving facial burns.

Frederick Rosier became the deputy commander of No 211 Group and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for operations over Libya in 1941.

Frederick Rosier was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire mid that year, before being appointed to command RAF Northolt in 1944.

Frederick Rosier was appointed officer commanding RAF Horsham St Faith in 1947 and then went on an exchange officer posting with the United States Air Force in 1948 and on return to the UK was appointed an instructor at the Joint Services Staff College in 1950.

Frederick Rosier went on to be group captain operations at Central Fighter Establishment in 1952, group captain plans at RAF Fighter Command in 1954 and aide-de-camp to the Queen in 1956.

Frederick Rosier was made director of joint plans at the Air Ministry in 1958, air officer commanding Air Forces Middle East in 1961 and senior air staff officer at Headquarters Transport Command in 1964.

Frederick Rosier was advanced to a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in 1972, before he retired from the RAF the following year.

Frederick Rosier was the chairman of the Polish Pilots Benevolent Fund and received the Polish Order of Merit in 1998.