Robert Freer
Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert William George Freer, GBE, KCB, FRAeS, FRSA (1 September 1923 – 15 January 2012) was a Royal Air Force (RAF) officer who served as Deputy Commander of Strike Command from 1978 to 1979.
Sir Robert Freer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 September 1923 Darjeeling, India |
| Died | 15 January 2012 (aged 88) Farnham, Surrey, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1942–1982 |
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
| Commands held | Royal College of Defence Studies (1980–82) No. 18 Group (1975–78) No. 11 Group (1972–75) RAF Seletar (1963–66) No. 92 Squadron (1955–57) |
| Battles/wars | Second World War Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air |
RAF career
Educated at Gosport Grammar School, Freer joined the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and became a flying instructor.[1] He was given command of No. 92 Squadron in 1955,[1] and became Station Commander of RAF Seletar in Singapore in 1963 during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.[2] He was made Deputy Director of Defence Plans in 1966, Deputy Commandant of the RAF Staff College, Bracknell in 1969 and Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Near East Air Force in 1971.[1] He went on to be Air Officer Commanding No. 11 Group in 1972, Air Officer Commanding No. 18 Group in 1975 and Deputy Commander of Strike Command in 1978.[1] His last appointment was as Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1980 before he retired in 1982.[1]
In retirement he became a Director of Rediffusion.[1] He died at home on 15 January 2012.[3]
Family
In 1950 he married Margaret Tinkler; they had one son and one daughter.[1]
References
- Debrett's People of Today 1994
- Proceedings of the Royal Air Force Historical Society, Issue No.13, 1994, p. 27
- Telegraph announcements
External links
- Obituary in The Telegraph
- Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Freer
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir David Fraser |
Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies 1980–1982 |
Succeeded by Sir William Pillar |
| Preceded by Sir Alfred Ball |
Deputy Commander-in-Chief Strike Command 1978–1979 |
Succeeded by Sir Thomas Kennedy |
| Preceded by Douglas Lowe |
Air Officer Commanding No. 18 Group 1975–1978 |
Succeeded by Philip Lagesen |
| Preceded by Ivor Broom |
Air Officer Commanding No. 11 Group 1972–1975 |
Succeeded by William Harbison |