Wilfrid Freeman

Wilfrid Freeman

Infobox Military Person
name= Wilfrid Rhodes Freeman
lived= 18 July 188815 May 1953
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=


caption= Sir Wilfrid Freeman
nickname=
allegiance=flag|United Kingdom
serviceyears= 1908–1942
rank= Air Chief Marshal
branch= air force|United Kingdom
commands=
unit=
battles= World War I
World War II
awards= Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross
Mention in Despatches (3)
laterwork= Work at Courtaulds

Air Chief Marshal Sir Wilfrid Rhodes Freeman, 1st Baronet, GCB, DSO, MC, RAF (18 July 1888 – 15 May 1953) was one of the most important influences on the rearmament of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the years up to and including the Second World War. Having joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1914, he saw active service during the First World War, and continued to serve in the newly formed RAF during the inter-war years.

In 1936 he was given the job of choosing the aircraft with which to rearm the RAF, and in 1938 his remit was expanded to include the controlling of their production, which he did with great distinction until 1940. In November 1940 he was moved against his will to become Deputy Chief of the Air Staff. His department, now formed into the Ministry of Aircraft Production (MAP) by the opportunistic Lord Beaverbrook (who took credit for much of Freeman’s work) rapidly stagnated, and after two years Freeman was moved back to MAP which he continued to run with distinction.

More perhaps than any other single figure, Freeman was responsible for the RAF ordering the Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire, De Havilland Mosquito, Avro Lancaster, Handley-Page Halifax and Hawker Tempest. He played an equally vital role in the development of the Merlin-engined P-51 Mustang, providing North American with the original specification and then installing Rolls-Royce Merlin engines in place of the unsatisfactory Allison V-1710 engines.

References

*Furse, Anthony. (1999). "Wilfrid Freeman: the genius behind Allied survival and air supremacy, 1939 to 1945." Staplehurst: Spellmount. ISBN 1-86227-079-1
* [http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Freeman_WR.htm Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Chf Mshl Freeman]

-
-
-


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • P-51 Mustang — infobox Aircraft name = P 51 Mustang type = Fighter manufacturer =North American Aviation caption = North American P 51 Mustangs of the 375th Fighter Squadron, 361st FG, summer 1944 first flight =26 October 1940 introduction =1942 retired =1957,… …   Wikipedia

  • North American P-51 Mustang — P 51 redirects here. For other uses, see P51 (disambiguation). P 51 Mustang P 51 Mustangs of the 375th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group …   Wikipedia

  • Rolls-Royce Peregrine — Peregrine Constructeur Rolls Royce Premier vol 1938 Utilisation Westland Whirlwind Caractéristiques Type moteur à explosion V12 Longueur 1 869 mm Masse 51 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • de Havilland Mosquito — DH.98 Mosquito The Mosquito B Mk XVI ML963 of 571 Squadron this aircraft was lost on an operation to Berlin in April 1945 …   Wikipedia

  • de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito — de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito …   Wikipédia en Français

  • De Havilland Mosquito — Infobox Aircraft name= DH.98 Mosquito type=Fast bomber, fighter bomber, and night fighter manufacturer=de Havilland Aircraft Company caption= Mosquito B Mark IV Series 2, DK338 , in flight after completion c. 1942. IWM Collection designer=Ronald… …   Wikipedia

  • Christopher Draper — For other people named Christopher Draper, see Christopher Draper (disambiguation). Squadron Commander Christoper Draper, DSC Croix de guerre (15 April 1892 – 16 January 1979), was an English flying ace of World War I. His penchant for flying… …   Wikipedia

  • Charles Burnett (RAF officer) — Sir Charles Stuart Burnett Sir Charles Burnett in RAF full dress Born …   Wikipedia

  • DH.98 — De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito Pour les articles homonymes, voir Mosquito …   Wikipédia en Français

  • DH98 — De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito Pour les articles homonymes, voir Mosquito …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”