Info Pilot Alfred K Munnings's time in France.

Since my last message I attended a ceremony of remembrance in connection with the locals who were killed during the Algerian war. After this ceremony I spoke to a gentleman who lived not far from one of the areas on of the maps. I asked if he knew of an airman being hidden in the forest. He is now putting me in touch with an ex resistant who was very active in the area.

I also have other ideas of how to research this story such as contacting the local town halls in the other places he mentions, see what they say.

I want to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their help in this matter and I hope I have not wasted anyone's time.

Once I have more information concerning this story I will be posting it here.

Thank you.

 

I have received an email from the RAF museum at Hendon and the curator there managed to find details for a WO V.A. Munnings 1281261 who was taken as POW. They were not able to tell me any more than that. Does anyone have any information on this person?

Also, my friend who gave me the original docs has recently emailed me to say that he was told that Mr Munnings was apparently based at Boscombe! According to the copies ORBs that I have 56 squadron were at North Weald and not Boscombe! According to Wikipedia it was 109 squadron that was at Boscombe. Does anyone have any info on a Munnings in 109 squadron by any chance?

 

1281261 Victor Albert Munnings

POW number 226423, Stalag Luft III

May have been born Lambeth in the December 1916 Qtr.

If so, married Jean M. Bertham at Petersfield in the December 1947 Qtr. No children.

 

Prisoners Of War 1715-1945
Archive reference WO 392/18
First name(s) V A
Last name Munnings
Year -
Service number 1281261
Rank W/o
Country of imprisonment Germany
Nationality British

Archive reference AIR 20/2336
First name(s) V A
Last name Munnings
Year -
Service number 1281261
Rank W/o
Country of imprisonment Germany
Document details POWs in German territory March 1945

Archive reference WO 392/8
First name(s) V A
Last name Munnings
Year -
Service number 1281261
Rank W/o
Ship name Royal Air Force
Country of imprisonment Germany
Ship or corps Royal Air Force

Archive reference WO 392/21
First name(s) V A
Last name Munnings
Year -
Service number 1281261
Rank Sergeant
Ship name Royal Air Force
Country of imprisonment Italy
Ship or corps Royal Air Force

Prisoners Of War 1715-1945
First name(s) V. A.
Last name Munnings
Service number 1281261
Rank Warrant Officer
Regiment/corps Royal Air Force : Officers & Other Ranks
Year -
Prison camp or ship Sagan and Belaria
Camp type Stalag Luft 3
Section Royal Air Force : Officers & Other Ranks
Camp number L3
Camp location Sagan and Belaria

 

UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
Name: V A Munnings
Rank: Warrant Officer
Army Number: 1281261
Regiment: Royal Air Force : Officers & Other Ranks
POW Number: 226423
Camp Type: Stalag Luft 3
Camp Number: L3
Camp Location: Sagan and Belaria, Poland
Section: Royal Air Force : Officers & Other Ranks

Hmm - not likely to be running around Normandy if behind barbed wire in Poland
TD

 

Possibly
Birth Q3 1916 Lambeth
Married Q3 1947 Petersfield
Death Q4 1998 North Surrey (dob 27/8/1916)
1939 Living with parents Camberwell

 

Tony, I note that this guys nationality is German, do you think that could be a typo?

 

When was W.O Munnings captured? I can't see a date.

 

Yes, looks like a transcription error, no nationality on original - sorry, have edited post.

 

No worries.

 

Perhaps the folks on rootschat would like to know the latest. An awful lot of nice people there.

Alfred K Munnings (The Common Room) Page 1 RootsChat.Com

 

If we were to assume that this was an intentional piece of fiction and the author needed a name for the main character, then Alfred Munnings could have been based on a real person, who was well known in racing circles for painting horses and racing scenes, who originated in Suffolk and died in 1959.

Affordable Sir Alfred Munnings Posters for sale at AllPosters.com

 

I am intrigued that someone can walk into a pub in 2019 to find out about a specific person and meet people who are, not only aware of Mr Munnings, but also his military exploits, of over 75 years ago. Either he or his exploits must have been very prominent.

Having gone to all this trouble (and being aware of the problems you are having with this research) I am sure that your friend would have asked a million and one questions of the locals in an attempt to identify Alfred and uncover more information on the story.

Can you fill us in on the outcome of his visit?

 

Hmm - not likely to be running around Normandy if behind barbed wire in Poland
TD[/QUOTE]
BUT..... could it be possible that he had escaped from the pow camp, traveled on foot all the way to France, and went on his incredible journey around Normandy, before returning to the camp without the Germans realising he had gone, just to prove it could be done !!!!! (and no, i'm not being serious)

 

Was that before or after he had trained Captain America, or when he stowed away on a V2 to become the first man in space?