Roger Freeman
Fri Oct 07, 2005 2:46 pm
It is with great sadness that I have to report that Roger Freeman passed away last night.
Everyone with even a passing interest in the history of the 8th AF in WWII must own at least one of his books, widely regarded as the last word on the subject.
An interview with him from last year can be found on the Air-Scene UK website here.
A sad loss indeed. I heard him speak at Duxford in the late-1970s, and his passion and authoritative knowledge of the subject was evident. Condolences to his family and close friends.
Everyone with even a passing interest in the history of the 8th AF in WWII must own at least one of his books, widely regarded as the last word on the subject.
An interview with him from last year can be found on the Air-Scene UK website here.
A sad loss indeed. I heard him speak at Duxford in the late-1970s, and his passion and authoritative knowledge of the subject was evident. Condolences to his family and close friends.
Fri Oct 07, 2005 5:18 pm
Sorry to hear this. I have several of his books on my shelf. Was he ill? How old was he?
Fri Oct 07, 2005 5:26 pm
According to the information that I have, he was 77 and had been ill with cancer for a while.
Fri Oct 07, 2005 9:12 pm
A great loss. He was perhaps the most imporatnt historian of American combat airpower. He popularized 8th AF history like no one before and I believe he was responsible for inspiring many 8th AF veterans to write their first person histories that we've seen published over the last decade or so.
I had the honor of meeting him when I was stationed in Suffolk in the late 80's. The librarian at RAF Bent waters asked me for a suggestion on who could come to the base and give a lecture on area history. I suggested Mr. Freeman and within weeks he was there to give a talk. I was a bit concerned that WWII history might not appeal to some of the younger servicemen, but I shouldn't have been worried. The place was full, and many A-10 pilots were there to learn about their predecessors who flew from the surrounding countryside nearly a half century before.
He signed my copy of The Mighty Eighth "With every good wish, Roger A. Freeman"
Fair winds, Mr. Freeman.
I'd like to think that he's now hearing some great stories from the men who made "The Mighty Eighth" mighty.
I had the honor of meeting him when I was stationed in Suffolk in the late 80's. The librarian at RAF Bent waters asked me for a suggestion on who could come to the base and give a lecture on area history. I suggested Mr. Freeman and within weeks he was there to give a talk. I was a bit concerned that WWII history might not appeal to some of the younger servicemen, but I shouldn't have been worried. The place was full, and many A-10 pilots were there to learn about their predecessors who flew from the surrounding countryside nearly a half century before.
He signed my copy of The Mighty Eighth "With every good wish, Roger A. Freeman"
Fair winds, Mr. Freeman.
I'd like to think that he's now hearing some great stories from the men who made "The Mighty Eighth" mighty.
Fri Oct 07, 2005 11:45 pm
May he rest in peace. God bless him for all he did for us.
Sat Oct 08, 2005 3:48 am
My condolances to his family.
I have two of his 8th airforce books on my shelf and eaven after reading them cover to cover I still keep going back for more!. I never managed to get copies of "Airfields of the eight" or "The mighty eigth's operations manual(?)" though
Rgds Cking
I have two of his 8th airforce books on my shelf and eaven after reading them cover to cover I still keep going back for more!. I never managed to get copies of "Airfields of the eight" or "The mighty eigth's operations manual(?)" though
Rgds Cking
Sat Oct 08, 2005 8:10 am
As JBoyle said, a great loss. I don't think there has been a single other person who did so much to record and explore the history of the 8th AF here in the UK during WWII. His many books kindled my own keen interest in the subject and I've spent many hours exploring old airfields using his books as reference. RIP Roger.
Sat Oct 08, 2005 8:49 am
My sincere condolences to his family.
I've thoroughly enjoyed his outstanding books on the 8th Air Force and refer to them regularly. The aviation world will really miss his in-depth knowledge of WWII aviation history.
Dennis
I've thoroughly enjoyed his outstanding books on the 8th Air Force and refer to them regularly. The aviation world will really miss his in-depth knowledge of WWII aviation history.
Dennis
Sat Oct 08, 2005 11:01 pm
Sad. I knew from a good friend of his that he was sick. This friend even made a special trip to the UK from here in the States a few weeks ago to see him.
Not that the "Mighty Eighth" wasn't famous already, but Roger definitely kept their accomplishments prominent in our minds up to present. Each and every numbered Air Force should do as well to have their own "Roger Freeman".
Roger's special love was the 56th Fighter Group, as he grew up close to one of their operational fields and watched them at close range many times through the fence as a youngster. Can't remember which one (Boxted, I think). Later, of course, he became good friends with not only many of the Wolfpack's pilots and men, but those of just about all of the 8th's other fighter and bomber groups as well. He wrote about them all. I just finished reading Roger's "Wolfpack Warriors" a few months ago.
I myself had the privilege of working as a volunteer at the Barksdale AFB, LA "8th Air Force Museum" (where 8AF has been HQ'd since 1975) for ~17 years and I got to meet quite a few of these men myself. To a man, I believe that every one considered their time as part of "the most destructive group of men ever assembled" as very, very special.
Roger's well-known "trilogy" of the Eighth is without peer. The Mighty Eighth, The Mighty Eighth War Diary, and The Mighty Eighth War Manual are matchless in detail and depth of coverage. As usual with such books, their excellence is only exceeded by the author's love of the subject contained within. There's simply no better combination than an intelligent author with a passion for his subject.
Thank you, Roger, from all of us!
Wade
Not that the "Mighty Eighth" wasn't famous already, but Roger definitely kept their accomplishments prominent in our minds up to present. Each and every numbered Air Force should do as well to have their own "Roger Freeman".
Roger's special love was the 56th Fighter Group, as he grew up close to one of their operational fields and watched them at close range many times through the fence as a youngster. Can't remember which one (Boxted, I think). Later, of course, he became good friends with not only many of the Wolfpack's pilots and men, but those of just about all of the 8th's other fighter and bomber groups as well. He wrote about them all. I just finished reading Roger's "Wolfpack Warriors" a few months ago.
I myself had the privilege of working as a volunteer at the Barksdale AFB, LA "8th Air Force Museum" (where 8AF has been HQ'd since 1975) for ~17 years and I got to meet quite a few of these men myself. To a man, I believe that every one considered their time as part of "the most destructive group of men ever assembled" as very, very special.
Roger's well-known "trilogy" of the Eighth is without peer. The Mighty Eighth, The Mighty Eighth War Diary, and The Mighty Eighth War Manual are matchless in detail and depth of coverage. As usual with such books, their excellence is only exceeded by the author's love of the subject contained within. There's simply no better combination than an intelligent author with a passion for his subject.
Thank you, Roger, from all of us!
Wade
Sun Oct 09, 2005 4:15 am
Quite sad news !!!
My condolences for its family
ERIC JANSSONNE
My condolences for its family
ERIC JANSSONNE
Sun Oct 09, 2005 11:28 am
Sad News 
Sun Oct 09, 2005 9:44 pm
i hope somebody can fill his shoes as well as him & keep the passed torch going for the next generation out of respect for mr freeman, as well as the people of the mighty 8th that he paid tribute to countless times. my sympathy to all connected with him. best, tom
Thu Oct 20, 2005 10:18 am
Roger really was a delightful gentleman and my family and I were lucky enough to have known him and his wife Jean for the last 18 years or so. I will be there tomorrow for his memorial service, it's strange to think that I won't ever see him sweeping the road where the tractors had made a mess.
As everyone else has said his knowledge and expertise will sorely be missed, and I will miss him as a friend.
Thoughts are with Jean (his wife) and his family and friends.
RIP Roger
As everyone else has said his knowledge and expertise will sorely be missed, and I will miss him as a friend.
Thoughts are with Jean (his wife) and his family and friends.
RIP Roger