Wing Commander Trevor O. Freeman
Royal Air Force (RAF)Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), NZ Fighter Wing
P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3153 pilot Missing In Action (MIA) December 17, 1943

Background
Trevor Owen Freeman was born June 5, 1916 to parents William Frederick and Elizabeth Allan Freeman of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. He attended Dunedin Technical High School. He showed an early interest in flying and by the age 17, he gained his "A" pilot's license.

Wartime History
During 1933, he applied for short service commission in the Royal Air Force (RAF) but was not accepted at that time. At his own expense, he traveled to the United Kingdom. On January 6, 1936 he enlisted in the the Royal Air Force (RAF) with serial number 1026. On March 13, 1936 he began flight training as a pilot at No. 3 Flying Training School at Grantham, Lincolnshire. On December 18, 1936 he earned his flying badge and was assigned to No. 74 Fighter Squadron at Hornchurch Airfield in Essex.

As an RAF pilot, he flew Gauntlets, Spitfires and Wellingtons. For his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar and flew a total of 58 sorties in Europe. In London, he married Juliet Maitland Edwards in a wedding service attended by fellow pilots.

During January 1943, departs England and returns to New Zealand by air flying via West Africa, West Indies then to New York and across the United States and across the Pacific and conducted a tour and inspect on his way home. On February 9, 1943 returned to New Zealand after ten years away and was assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Air Headquarters, Director of Operations with serial number NZ1026.

On September 6, 1943 assigned to No. 1 Islands Group on Espiritu Santo then to New Georgia in the Solomon Islands and began flying combat missions in the P-40N Kittyhawk. As a Wing Commander, he was assigned his own aircraft, P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3153 with nose letter "F" for his surname Freeman.

On October 11, 1943 he was credited with damaging a Zeke.

On October 17, 1943 took command of the RNZAF Fighter Wing (NZ Fighter Wing) on New Georgia in the Solomon Islands and began flying combat missions in the P-40N Kittyhawk in the Solomon Islands. On October 27, 1943 he flew air cover for Allied landings in the Treasury Islands and flew cover for Allied warships and transports.

Mission History
On December 17, 1943 at 5:30am took off from Ondonga Airfield on New Georgia piloting P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3153 leading the 1st section as one of 12 Kittyhawks from No. 16 Squadron plus 12 Kittyhawks from No. 14 Squadron the flew to Torokina Airfield on Bougainville to refuel.

At 9:00am the twelve Kittyhawks from No. 16 Squadron took off on a fighter sweep and departed bound for Rabaul. Meanwhile, the No. 14 Squadron was delayed while two P-39 Airacobras made an emergency landing and took off later. Due to a miscommunication, the No. 16 Squadron Kittyhawks did not wait for the rest of the formation and the RNZAF fighters proceeded to the target in two separate groups.

The formation of 77 Allied fighters included the 24 Kittyhawks and were joined by twenty-two U.S. Navy F6F Hellcats and thirty-one U.S. Marine Corps F4U Corsairs. This was the RNZAF first major air operation. Inbound to the target, two Kittyhawks from No. 16 Squadron aborted the mission due to to mechanical problems, leaving 75 fighters that proceeded to the target. They intended to lure Japanese fighters into air combat and shoot down as many as possible ahead of a bombing mission planned for the next day.

At 10:30am the formation reached Kabanga Bay on New Britain and began a circuit around the Rabaul area then turned over Cape Liguan and Tavui Point (Tawui) when they observed dust from Vunakanau Airfield and Lakunai Airfield indicating Japanese planes had taken off to intercept. As the Allied fighters made a second circuit over the area they experienced heavy anti-aircraft fire over Tobera Airfield. Between Vunakanau Airfield and Tavui Point (Tawui) they spotted four Zekes over Saint Georges Channel (St. Georges Channel) that turned inside the formation then turned and attacked from the rear.

During the air combat, Freeman was credited with shooting down one Zero. This plane was last seen loosing altitude but under control over southwest New Ireland, but not seen again by other pilots as the air combat was still underway. This Kittyhawk was bing chased by as many as four enemy Zeros. Reportedly, he crashed near Hunter Point, but no trace of him or his aircraft was ever found. When this plane failed to return, it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). On January 31, 1944 officially written off books.

A total of three P-40s were lost and two pilots missing: this aircraft plus P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3175 pilot Flight Lieutenant J. O. McFarlane (MIA). A total of nine Japanese planes were claimed shot down by the Allies including five by RNZAF Kittyhawks and four by U.S. Navy planes.

In total, Freeman had amassed a total of 1,983 hours of flying time as a pilot. When lost, he was most senior RNZAF pilot lost in the South Pacific (SOPAC) during World War II.

Memorials
Freeman was officially declared dead the day of the mission at age 27. He is memorialized at Burail War Cemetery on the Bourail Memorial, panel 3.

Awards
Distinguished Service Order and Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar.

References
Royal New Zealand Air Force Biography of T. O. Freeman pages 1-4
CWGC - Trevor Owen Freeman
Auckland Memorial Online Cenotaph - Trevor Owen Freeman (photo)
Air To Air The Story Behind the air-to-air combat claims of the RNZAF (2003) pages 167, 169, 174, 197, 208-213 (December 17, 1943), 318 (Freeman Biography), 399 (index Freeman)

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