Frank Freeman

“My Papap was married to my Nanny for over 60 years, and had seven children, 20 grandchildren and over 15 great-grandchildren.

I will always remember him for having a smile on his face, a great story to tell, and for his love of his family.”

– Teri Miller, Business Coordinator, University Advancement

Frank Freeman, remembered by granddaughter Teri Miller

Staff Sergeant Frank Freeman flew 50 missions bombing Nazi oil refineries in Italy and Russia.

My grandfather, Staff Sergeant Frank Freeman, was from a small town in Pennsylvania called Shaner. Frank left his young wife and daughter (my mom) to join the Army in March 1943 at the age of 19. He attended aerial gunnery school at Laredo, Texas, where he won his wings and soon after joined one of the oldest heavy bombardment groups in the Mediterranean theater.

My grandfather would become a ball turret gunner on a B17 crew. A ball turret gunner was one of the most dangerous assignments in WWII. A glass bubble jutting out from the under belly of the plane was all that protected my grandfather from enemy attack.

As a member of the Sandman crew, my grandfather flew 50 missions. The Sandman’s mission was to bomb Nazi oil refineries in Italy and Russia and to distract Hitler as the Allies prepared to land on the Normandy beach.

My grandfather was so very proud to serve as an American soldier and loved to tell stories about his missions and the brave men he served with during WII. He was especially proud of the Sandman crew, reconnecting through letters, reunions and on the internet.