Rowan Hutchinson

HUTCHINSON, Rowan Theodore

Rowan was born in Toronto in 1917. After Upper Canada College and Queen's, he enlisted in the RCAF in 1940. He was posted overseas to 401 Squadron and in 1942 to 414 Squadron (Sarnia Imperials) based at Croydon, Surrey flying Mustangs and Spitfires. Rowan spent six years in the RCAF, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1943 and promoted to Squadron Leader in 1944. His duties included reconnaissance, strafing, defensive patrols, attacks on military infrastructure and escorts. One assignment, in June 1943, entailed escorting a naval vessel disguised as a fishing boat on a mission in the Channel. Rowan and flying mate, Larry Doherty, were ambushed by three Focke-Wulfs. Doherty spotted them and alerted Rowan, but was too late to save himself and was shot down. Rowan fought the planes off and credited his friend Doherty with saving his life. On D-Day, Rowan, now commanding 414 Squadron, spotted targets for naval bombardment of coastal defences. The ensuing days included photography of Luftwaffe airfields. Postwar, Rowan settled in New Liskeard, Ontario. A prominent businessman, he also sat on the board of Northern Telephone. He married Rosemary Kerr (RCAF) of Montreal in 1948 in Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec. The couple had three children. Rowan passed away on June 26, 2003.