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Flying Officer Averell Freeman

 

      Flying Officer Averell Whitman Freeman was born in Kempt to Whitman and Lizzie (nee Minard) Freeman on March 21st, 1917.  He had an older brother Arnold who died in infancy, and two sisters, Irene and Norma.  The family was of the Baptist faith.  Averell stood 5 feet, 10 1/2 inches tall (179 cm), weighed 154 pounds (70 kg), and had light brown eyes and light brown hair.  At the time of his enrolment, Averell had been working the family farm alongside his father.

 

      Averell enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) on November 19th, 1940.  He had once had a ride in an airplane, so he was very keen to become an RCAF pilot.  He was given the rank of Leading Aircraftman (LAC) during training, and the Service number J/16400.  Leading Aircraftman Freeman’s flying training took him all over Canada over the next sixteen months, primarily flying the Anson I aircraft.  With each new qualification came new rank and responsibilities; along the way he was promoted to Air Sergeant on August 20th, 1941, and then to Flight Sergeant when he received his Wings on March 1st, 1942.

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      Flight Sergeant Freeman deployed to England and served on five Squadrons over the next year, as new Squadrons were stood up in Britain to become Bomber Command, in the effort to take the war to the German homeland.  He was given a Commission and became Flying Officer Freeman on December 13th, 1942.  On February 24th, 1943, Flying Officer Freeman began his conversion training on the Wellington Mark X (twin-engine, long-range) Bomber, and was posted to 420 Squadron on April 5th when his training was complete. 

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      Flying Officer Freeman deployed to North Africa on June 1st, 1943, and flew the Wellington aircraft on strategic and tactical bombing operations from Tunisia in support of the invasions of Sicily and Italy.   On August 17th, 1943, Flying Officer Freeman’s aircraft was one of 11 that were loaded with bombs and took off across the Mediterranean to attack shoreline targets between Briatico and Capo Suvero, Italy.  Bombs were seen to burst in the vicinity of the aiming point, striking fuel storage supplies and causing flames to reach 400 feet.  Flying Officer Freeman and his crew are believed to have perished sometime during or after the bombing run and did not return to base in Tunisia.  He was 26 years old.

 

      Flying Officer Freeman’s father Whitman was sent a letter on August 18th, 1943 to inform the family that his crew was missing and presumed dead, but with the caveat that “It is possible, of course, that they may be prisoners-of-war, but only time will tell”.  It was not until June 6th, 1944, that a letter was sent to Whitman Freeman to officially declare that Flying Officer Freeman was “officially presumed to have died in action overseas”.

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      Flying Officer Freeman bequeathed his estate to his mother Lizzie.  She was also awarded the Memorial Cross Medal (also known as the Silver Cross) and received his medals earned in the War; the 1939-45 Star, the Air Crew Europe Star (for two months operational flying over Europe from Britain), the Italy Star, the Defence Medal, the General Service Medal, and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (with Clasp).  On October 4th, 1946, Lizzie Freeman received her son’s Operational Wings and “Certificate in recognition of the gallant services rendered by your son, Flying Officer A.W. Freeman”.

 

      Flying Officer Averell Freeman’s remains were never recovered, but he is commemorated on Panel 1, Column 10 of the Malta Memorial.  The Malta Memorial commemorates almost 2,300 airmen who lost their lives during the Second World War whilst flying from bases in Austria, Italy, islands of the Adriatic and Mediterranean, Malta, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, West Africa, Yugoslavia and Gibraltar, and who have no known grave.  The Memorial was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II on May 3rd, 1954.

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      Flying Officer Freeman’s uncle, Enoch Freeman, perished in service during World War One.  Thus Flying Officer Freeman’s father Whitman lost a brother and a son to the wars in Europe.

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      Flying Officer Averell Whitman Freeman is commemorated on page 160 of the World War Two Book of Remembrance.  He is also listed on the Caledonia Cenotaph.

 

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Online References

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Second World War Personnel Records Database (file download size 21.2 Meg) - https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?

app=kia&IdNumber=12115&ecopy=44486_83024005548_0531-00001

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War Grave Search – https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1082026/averell-whitman-freeman/

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Local Grave Search - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15269204/averell-whitman-freeman

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Canadian Virtual War Memorial - https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1082026?Averell%20Whitman%20Freeman

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Details on crew and final mission.  https://caspir.warplane.com/pdoc/pn/600006771/​