“Jon E. Hornbostel is a 43-year old airplane lover, aircraft repair technician, model builder, and amateur historian living in Junction City, Kansas, where he was born and has lived much of his life.  His love for aircraft started at a young age when he became fascinated with his father's model airplanes and decided he had to build them as well.  This modeling hobby expanded into an interest in history as part of his desire to build and decorate models as accurately as possible.  Since first beginning to snoop for info on the internet and acquiring a lap-top computer and a portable scanner a few years ago, Jon has acquired a large collection of digital photos primarily covering the pre-WWII and WWII periods, with a special interest in the early US Mechanized Cavalry.  He has constructed several vehicle models for display at the US Cavalry Museum at Fort Riley, Kansas.  Jon is currently doing aircraft repair and restoration at Freeman Field. He is single and lives with four adopted cats. 

“Jon stumbled across the Clarence Freeman collection about a year ago when Clarence's daughter Gloria asked who might be interested in looking at it and what museum should ultimately own it.  Since then it has been perused by various individuals involved with general aviation in the Junction City area, but no final resting place has been chosen.  Does anyone have any ideas as to the appropriate repository?  All involved hope that the collection is somehow properly preserved but not locked away from researchers and others curious about the past.  Of course, this is ultimately why Jon has offered certain scanned images to our http://www.rb-29.net/ 91st Squadron web site.  He believes we have done a great job covering the later periods of this important unit's history, and it only seemed logical to help fill in all the gaps where possible.  Jon became aware of this site while trying to gain a better understanding of the military images from Clarence's photo collection, in the hope that their historical meaning will not be lost.  Jon also hopes that his initial efforts will lead to further illumination of the images' meaning through the involvement of other site visitors and contributors, and therefore to a fuller understanding of this colorful and critical period in American history.

“Jon was not very familiar with Clarence before he passed away, but his father Marvin knew him well and worked with him on a few projects ”

Clarence E. Freeman was born 31 March 1919 in Junction City, Kansas.  His parents were Elmer and Edith E. Burns Freeman.  He moved from Junction City to Brea California when he was 16, and he graduated from high school there.  Soon thereafter he became a licensed pilot. [In approximately 1937] he joined the US Army Air Corps. [He went through aviation mechanic's training at Chanute Field Illinois, and served in the 91st Observation Squadron at Gray Field, Ft. Lewis Washington].  During World War II he served in the US Army Air Force [in the 91st Observation Sqdn. at Wheeler-Sack Field in New York state, in the Dutch East Indies and the Philippines, and apparently in the 11th Observation Squadron in 1943].  After the war, he returned to Junction City and operated Freeman's Hobby Shops there for 10 years.  He next worked for 25 years as the Junction City building inspector, retiring in 1971.  He then operated F & H Air Service at the Junction City Municipal Airport, and was involved with the repair and restoration of several vintage aircraft.  During this period he became the manager of this airport, and remained in this position until his death on 7 June 1988.  The Junction City Municipal Airport has now been officially renamed Freeman Field.
 
Clarence was married to Florence E. Mayden on 19 October 1953 at the First Baptist Church in Junction City.  He was survived by his wife, one daughter Gloria, two sisters, and two granddaughters.
 
Clarence was a member of the Church of the Covenant, Episcopal, the Flint Hills Flyers, the Antique Airplane Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Confederate Air Force, the Ercoupe Owners Club, [the Civil Air Patrol], and the EAA Sport Aviation Association.