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Wing Commander Donald Freeborn

Posted by Richard Woods on Mon Jun 10, 2002 09:08:42 AM

Hi all,

I went on a visit to an Army base at Chilwell, UK with some of my friends, when I got talking to a major about the "Easy Elsie" project and the possibility of the TA recovering it for me, when he told me his Dad used to fly Lancasters.

I didn't think much of it at the time but this weekend I was invited to meet the man, RCAF pilot Wing Commander Donald Freeborn DFC and bar. He flew as a Flying Officer with 153 and 166 squadrons, and later 408 squadron in Canada. His service number is J35289 and he later became the Director of Emergency Equipment Research at the Institute of Aviation Medicine, developing droppable medical kits emergency rations and protective clothing.

He has flown everything from single engined trainers, to Mach 2 jets, and he still maintains the Lancaster was the best aircraft he ever flew.

Apparently when he'd flown the Mach 2 fighter, the crew chief came up to him and said,
"I bet that felt pretty special, Huh?"
His reply was,
"It was OK; but it's never going to be a Lancaster!"

The DFC was won for flying a Lanc back on two engines on the same side, with a wounded leg. The wound was that bad he was hospitalised at East Grinstead.

On one mission to Stuttgart he was attacked by a fighter using upwards firing cannon, the "Slanting Music", which set his Lanc on fire ("burning like a torch" as he said). On the way down the rear gunner saw the fighter and shot it down before baling out.

After the war he flew at several airshows, and told me he feathered all four engines on a pass over the field, and that it was all over the papers the next day. If anyone could verify this I'd love to hear it and so would his son, so I'd be grateful.

In October 1944, he was flying with 166 squadron, and was shot down over Holland, but baled out and evaded capture. I don't know the serial of the Lanc or the exact date, but I am trying to trace this aircraft, and establish whether there are any parts of it however small, to see if I can get him a piece.

I came away from the meeting awestruck. If anyone can help me finding information on his aircraft or his career, I would be grateful.

Many Thanks
Richard

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