Obit:John Freeborn,90,British Fighter Pilot
New York Times,Friday,Sept 17 2010
Seventy years ago,John Freeborn was one of the Royal Air Force's leading fighter pilots,aclaimed for his exploits off Dunkirk and in the air above English villages during the Battle of Britain.
Of the nearly 3,000 Allied fliers who dueled with German aircraft in that battle,thwarting Hitler's ambition to conquer Britain,none logged more combat hours than Wing Commander Freeborn. He was credited with shooting down at least 12 German planes during World War 11,and he was twice decorated with Britains Distinquished Flying Cross.
But Mr. Freeborn,who died on Aug. 28 at the age of 90,was also a central figure in a long-remembered episode of "friendly fire"-one that brought him anquish throughout his long life.
On SEPT. 6, 1939 - three days after Britain had gone to war with Germany - MR. Freeborn flying a Spitfire fighter,was among a group of pilots sent aloft from their base at Hornchurch to intercept what were reported to be German planes headed toward the Essex coast in Southeast England.
But it was a case of war jitters.There were no German aircraft.Mr. Freeborn and a pilot flying alongside him each shot down what they presumed to be German fighters.
But they in had,in fact ,downed a pair of British Hurricane fighters,which had also been sent up,from nearby North Weald airbase.
Pilot Officer Montague Hulton-Harrop,the flier shot down by Mr. Freeborn,became the first British fighter pilot killed in the war.The other Hurricane pilot shot down that day survived.
Mr. Freeborn,accused by his commanding officer of disregarding a last -minute order to hold his fire,was court-martialed.But he maintained that his commander had lied-that he had,in fact been told to attack. He was exonerated together with his fellow Spitfire pilot,the affair attributed to miscommunication.
