Robert Freer (RAF officer)

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.

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]

In 1950 he married Margaret Tinkler, daughter of John William Elkington of Ruskington Manor; they had one son and one daughter.^[1]

• Obituary in The Telegraph
• Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Freer