Following his duties in experimental and test flying he became involved in developing support for airborne forces, he commanded RAF Fairford during the Normandy landings and the operations at Arnhem. Promoted to Air Commodore, Wheeler was appointed Senior Air Staff Officer in South-east Asia. Between 1950 and 1951 he commanded the RAF in Cyprus before returning to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&amp;AEE) at Boscombe Down between 1952 and 1955 when he retired.