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| Carl Gustaf von Rosen |
Rosen trained as mechanic and then pilot in then famous Flying Circus (Jagdgeschwader 1). However his independent flying career began with Red Cross mission operating in Ethiopia during Second Italo-Abyssyian war (1935-36). During that war Carl operated transport and medical missions and sustained combat wounds as a result of mustard gas used by Italian Air Force.
Before the WW2 he joined Dutch KLM, world's first private airline, only to quit and joined Finnish air force during Winter War of 1940. During German invasion is Netherlands Carl Gustaf, by that time an accomplished pilot flew to Britain with Dutch government's documents. Other sources claim that he took Royal Dutch family to UK before German paratroopers managed to get to them.
Since Royal Air Force, declined him a chance to fly in British colours, he spent most of the war in Sweden as boring commercial pilot. However after the war he returned to Ethiopia on personal invitation of Emperor Hale Selassie, who himself was an aviation enthusiast and pilot.
By 1947 Rosen was not only instructing Imperial Ethiopian Air Force, he was recruiting pilots and ground personal from shrinking European Air forces in anticipation of war in south-western parts of Ethiopia.
Rosen is calm and cheerful man, who appreciates humour and responsibility in his subordinates. Though he is technically commanding officer of the Squadron, weight of other duties often takes him away, so he is used to relying on his second in command and pilots initiative. The rumour has it that none can out drink him in entire IEAF. He has a good command of most transport aircraft, like DC-3 or Ju-52 as well as light Piper Cabs. He is moderately skilled with Me-109. His main area of expertise lies in organization, supply and training of young pilots.
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