The Ballad of Freddie Ohr: The True Story of Flying Ace Fred F. Ohr Explored through Solo Performance

Abstract

Freddie was a humble farm kid with a sky-high dream. He wanted to be a fighter pilot. But for a Korean American kid growing up between World Wars, becoming a fighter pilot wasn’t going to be simple or easy. He was going to have to fight for every opportunity he had. Will Freddie take flight, or will the prejudices of 1940’s America keep him grounded? The Ballad of Freddie Ohr is a solo performance depicting the experiences of Fred F. Ohr in becoming the first and only Korean American flying ace. Adapted from real, recorded interviews with Fred F. Ohr and inspired by American Folk Songs and Tall Tales like Paul Bunyan and John Henry, the play uses music and firsthand accounts to explore the immigrant experience and detail Fred F. Ohr’s dogged pursuit of his dream despite setbacks, German air attacks, and racial discrimination.