G-KEST
15th Oct 2005, 21:52
Roger Freeman
The man who kept the Mighty 8th alive in the UK
The UK's historic aviation community has been saddened at the news of the death of Roger A. Freeman, the peerless military aviation writer and historian who coined the phrase "The Mighty Eighth".
There is to be a memorial service for Roger at 3pm on Friday 21st October at St Mary's Church in his home village of Dedham, near Colchester, to which those who knew him are cordially invited.
Roger was, of course, best known for his seminal "Mighty Eighth" series of books about the US 8th Air Force's bomber offensive launched from the UK in World War II. In addition, he wrote some 50 books covering many other aspects of the wartime British and American air offensive. As such, he was a major consultant for the American Air Museum at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford; David Puttnam's 1989 film Memphis Belle; and many TV documentaries.
Lt General E.G. "Buck" Shuler (USAF ret.), who commanded the US 8th Air Force during Operation Desert Storm, said: "Roger Freeman was the finest aviation historian and writer since the dawn of military aviation. He aided me immeasurably in putting together the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Savannah, Georgia in the mid-90s. A true gentleman has departed from the scene."
General Shuler added that the entire library complex at the museum will be named The Roger A. Freeman Mighty Eighth Air Force Research Centre - a fitting tribute indeed.
Agreed.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
The man who kept the Mighty 8th alive in the UK
The UK's historic aviation community has been saddened at the news of the death of Roger A. Freeman, the peerless military aviation writer and historian who coined the phrase "The Mighty Eighth".
There is to be a memorial service for Roger at 3pm on Friday 21st October at St Mary's Church in his home village of Dedham, near Colchester, to which those who knew him are cordially invited.
Roger was, of course, best known for his seminal "Mighty Eighth" series of books about the US 8th Air Force's bomber offensive launched from the UK in World War II. In addition, he wrote some 50 books covering many other aspects of the wartime British and American air offensive. As such, he was a major consultant for the American Air Museum at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford; David Puttnam's 1989 film Memphis Belle; and many TV documentaries.
Lt General E.G. "Buck" Shuler (USAF ret.), who commanded the US 8th Air Force during Operation Desert Storm, said: "Roger Freeman was the finest aviation historian and writer since the dawn of military aviation. He aided me immeasurably in putting together the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Savannah, Georgia in the mid-90s. A true gentleman has departed from the scene."
General Shuler added that the entire library complex at the museum will be named The Roger A. Freeman Mighty Eighth Air Force Research Centre - a fitting tribute indeed.
Agreed.
Cheers,
Trapper 69