Robert Harold Friedman was born in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1924 but grew up in California. From a young age, he knew he would serve in the military and was inspired to join the Army Air Forces after seeing Air Corps advertisements and being captivated by the glamour of Charles Lindbergh's flight. In an interview with the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress, Friedman explained that he chose the Air Corps because he preferred the idea of being shot down over dying in the trenches.
World War II began shortly after Friedman started college. Although he was not yet 18, he spent several months persuading his mother to let him enlist in the Air Corps, which later became the Army Air Forces. He enlisted in August 1942, was called to service in early 1943, and graduated as an aerial navigator with the rank of second lieutenant in March 1944.
Friedman served a full tour with the "Ragged Irregulars," the 91st Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force, from 1943 to 1945. He began a second tour in November 1944 but only completed half of it before the war ended. During his service, Friedman flew 44 combat missions with the 91st's 323rd Squadron and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and an Air Medal with six clusters. He rose to the rank of first lieutenant during the war and resigned from the Air Force Reserve as a captain in 1957.
After the war, Friedman earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Texas. He pursued a career in research at an oil company, holding 51 U.S. patents, and retired as a senior scientist in 1990.
A lifetime member of the 91st Bomb Group Association, Friedman served as 1st vice president from 1995 and president from 1998 to 2001. He was actively involved in other volunteer organizations, including the American Chemical Society and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He was also a devoted member of Jewish Congregation Beth Yeshurun for 65 years and a smaller religious group, Havurah, for 41 years.
Friedman passed away in December 2011 after a long illness. He is survived by a large family, including his sister, wife, four children, and eight grandchildren.
