Edwards AFB News

F-22 test squadron recognizes decorated squadron member, Vietnam hero

  • Published
  • By Jet Fabara
  • 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Base leaders will always attest to the fact that people are what make Edwards a unique place to work. Not only do these people bring their work experience, professionalism and knowledge, but they often bring years of historic accounts with them as well, which is not often known by many.

For one range control officer attached to the 411th Flight Test Squadron, William "Farkle" Freckleton's story began as a radar intercept officer in the U.S. Navy from 1970 to 1993 flying F-4 Phantoms and F-14 Tomcats.

It was on March 6, 1972, while flying in trail in an F-4B during a MiG Combat Air Patrol mission 50 miles north of Quang Lang Airfield in North Vietnam, where Lt. Garry Weigand, F-4 pilot, and Navy Lt. j.g. William Freckleton's combat training and responsibilities would be put to the test.

During that mission, Freckleton said the flight of two F-4 crew members encountered a MiG-17 that was aggressively engaging their lead F-4 crewmates. With previous instructions to go to a high cover position upon first mention of a MiG sighting, Weigand and Freckleton were able to maintain a visual on the engaging MiG, descend from cover position and engage from the rear quarter. With no time to spare, it was Freckleton who shouted for a missile launch as Weigand pressed his trigger switch to release the AIM-9D sidewinder. That decision would be what ultimately saved Weigand and Freckleton's wingmen that day.

Freckleton is the only decorated Vietnam veteran at the 411th FLTS with 117 combat missions, one MiG-17 kill, 1,100 flight hours in the F-4 and 1,300 hours in the F-14, and 357 aircraft carrier landings.

Nearly 43 years later on April 21, 2015, the 411th FLTS decided to recognize Freckleton's historic accomplishments in both the Navy and within the 411th FLTS by giving him an F-16 incentive flight before his retirement.

"Mr. Bill 'Farkle' Freckleton has been a [range control officer] on the F-22 program since day one. I know because I was here on day one. We owe our respect, gratitude and friendship to Farkle. He is an American hero with a MiG kill and a silver star. Since his days with the Navy, Bill is unique in that, to my knowledge, he is the only RCO in recent history to have been on one program for his entire RCO career," said Steve Rainey, Lockheed Martin F-22 chief test pilot. "The F-22 Test Program has enjoyed tremendous success thanks to Bill's contributions and as such so have our warfighters. As an act of respect, thanks, and incentive for an American hero that is retiring this year after more than 40 years of combined military and government civilian service, this was the least we could do."

According to Freckleton, the opportunity was a once-in-a-lifetime chance that offered him an aerial insight and an appreciation of the daily flight operations that an F-22 test team is involved with; something he has only witnessed at Edwards from the control room during his tenure here.

"To experience, firsthand, the outcome of the endeavors of many people to bring a scheduled event into reality was truly a tremendous opportunity. It marked a significant milestone for me in aviation; one that I will always remember," said Freckleton. "Under the leadership of many fine and dedicated commanders, my first being [retired] Lt. Col. Steve 'Hooter' Rainey, seeing the complex operations of a squadron that result in completion of test flights, the results of which have direct application to operational and fleet F-22 squadrons, is extraordinary."

After Freckleton's flight, he noted that he also gained that much more of an appreciation of the technological advances and the day-to-day coordination and planning involved in executing test missions at Edwards.

"When I was a young naval flight officer flying operational, training and combat missions in F-4Bs, I never associated the fact that there were entire test organizations that checked systems, weapons, flight characteristics and a lot more behind what my pilot and I did on a daily basis," added Freckleton. "I can't say enough about the technological advances that have taken airframes, engines, avionics, displays and weapons from simpler, analog, iron-based technologies into glass-cockpits with stealth airframes and exotic weapons systems. Just for that I am extremely humbled and grateful for being given the opportunity to fly backseat in an F-16D. I want to thank everyone, and I know there are more people who have been involved in this that I even know about, who helped me attain this incredibly motivating and memorable event.

Freckleton retired from the U.S. Navy as a commander in 1997 and will retire from civil service this August. His military decorations included the Silver Star Medal, eight Strike/Flight Air Medals, an Individual Action Air Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat 'V' and the Navy Achievement Medal. His civilian work experience in military training systems included work on programs for the F-16, the F-14, B-1B and the Army's 40mm anti-aircraft gun system.