Frank Robert Miller

Air Chief Marshal[1] Frank Robert Miller, CC, CBE, CD (April 30, 1908 – October 20, 1997) was a Canadian airman, the last Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff in 1964, the first Chief of the Defence Staff from 1964 until 1966, and Deputy Minister of National Defence. He held a range of Air Force training appointments during World War II.

Frank Robert Miller
Air Chief Marshal Frank R Miller
Born	(1908-04-30)April 30, 1908 Kamloops, British Columbia
Died	October 20, 1997(1997-10-20) (aged 89) Charlottesville, Virginia
Allegiance	Canada
Service/branch	Royal Canadian Air Force / Canadian Forces
Years of service	1931–1955, 1960–1966
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Companion of the Order of Canada Commander of the Order of the British Empire Canadian Forces Decoration
Other work	Deputy Minister of National Defence

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 with the rank of pilot officer. He received his wings on December 16 and was promoted to flying officer.[2] Miller then underwent further training before becoming an instructor at the Camp Borden flying and navigation school in 1935. Promoted to flight lieutenant on September 1, 1937, he taught at the Air Navigation and Seaplane School, Trenton from May 1937 – September 1938. In September 1938, Miller was posted to England to attend the Specialist Air Navigation Course at the School of Air Navigation, RAF Manston, during which time he was promoted to squadron leader on April 1, 1939. At the outbreak of war in September, Miller was the Officer Commanding of the Air Navigation and Reconnaissance School, Trenton. He was promoted to acting wing commander in December 1940. From May 1942 Miller commanded the Air Navigation School at Rivers, Manitoba.[2] Promoted to acting group captain in July, he commanded the General Reconnaissance School on Prince Edward Island before moving to the Air Force Headquarters in January 1943 where he served as Director of Training Plans and Requirements. He was promoted to acting air commodore in January 1943.[2]

In 1944 Miller was posted to England and on September 19 he took up command of RAF Bomber Command's No. 61 Base in North Yorkshire, with the substantive rank of air commodore from October 14. 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.[3]

After the war, Miller served in several senior positions in the Royal Canadian Air Force. In September 1951, Miller was promoted to Vice-Chief of the Air Staff with the rank of air vice-marshal, serving until 1954. He was then posted to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe as General Lauris Norstad’s Vice-Deputy Air.[2] 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 1957.[2] He then became Deputy Commander-in-Chief NORAD.[2] In 1960 he was appointed Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff gaining promotion to air chief marshal on 1 September 1961.[2] Three years later he became the first Chief of the Defence Staff, serving from 1964 until 1966.[2] As Chief of the Defence Staff, Miller was opposed to the plans of the Defence Minister Paul Hellyer to merge the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army into one service, and in 1966 resigned in protest, saying he could not in good conscience co-operate with Hellyer's plans.[4]

In 1972 Miller was made a Companion of the Order of Canada. He died in 1997.[2]

Academic qualifications

• Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
• Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)

References and notes

1. This rank was used during the existence of the Royal Canadian Air Force and replaced with the rank of general in 1968 with the unification of the Canadian Forces. Miller was the only Canadian air chief marshal to hold the rank in an active capacity. The only other Canadian air chief marshal was Lloyd Samuel Breadner who was granted the rank on retirement.
2. Stouffer, Ray (2008). "Air Chief Marshal Frank Miller – A Civilian and Military Leader". Canadian Military Journal. 10 (No. 2). Archived from the original on 2010-09-26.
3. RAF.web Archived 2009-03-09 at the Wayback Machine
4. Morton, Desmond A Military History of Canada, Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1999 page 252.

External links

• Order of Canada Citation
• Frank Robert Miller at The Canadian Encyclopedia

Military offices
Preceded by J L Hurley	Air Officer Commanding No. 61 Base September – November 1944	Base disestablished on renumbering as No. 76 Base
New title Base established by renumbering No. 61 Base	Air Officer Commanding No. 76 Base November 1944 – January 1945	Succeeded by J G Kerr
Preceded by J G Bryans	Air Officer Commanding No. 63 Base January – May 1945	Succeeded by J G Kerr
Preceded by Unknown	Air Officer Commanding Maintenance Command June 1946 – August 1948	Succeeded by R E McBurney As AOC Air Materiel Command
Preceded by Unknown	Air Member Operations and Training 1949–1951	Succeeded by Unknown
Preceded by Unknown	Vice-Chief of the Air Staff 1951–1954	Succeeded by C R Dunlap
Government offices
Preceded by Charles Drury	Deputy Minister of National Defence 1955–1960	Succeeded by Elgin Armstrong
Military offices
Preceded by Charles Foulkes	Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff 1960–1964	Committee replaced by the Armed Forces Council
Preceded by Creation of position	Chief of the Defence Staff 1964–1966	Succeeded by J.V. Allard