Walter P Manning enlisted into the Army Air Forces Aviation Cadet Program on 15 March 1943 entering at Philadelphia Pennsylvania, a native of Maryland, original ASN: 33592772. After pilot training graduation he was Commissioned a Second Lieutenant, officer ASN: O-828053 Walter deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in August 1944, serving as a pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen operating from Ramitelli Air Base, Italy assigned to the 301st Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, 15th Air Force.
On 1 April 1945 Lt Manning was on a bomber escort mission to St. Polten, Austria flying his Mustang P-51B-15-NA-42-106943 with eight other planes in his flight. In the Wels, Austria area, about 15 miles southwest of Linz, Austria the squadron became engaged in a dog fight with Luftwaffe aircraft. Lt Manning was shot down in the Wels area but was able to bail out, to become a POW. F/O William P Armstrong, ASN: T-66139 was also shot down in this same action, KIA crashing with his plane.
Sadly, two days later Lt Walter P Manning an unarmed POW was murdered by the Nazis, not an uncommon fate for downed allied airmen late in the war. The following is an account of what happened in Lt Manning’s case as investigated by Austrian Historian Georg Hoffmann:
"A particularly tragic event occurred on 1 April 1945 in Linz-Hörsching. Walter Manning, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, was affected. This is an air force organization of the US Army Air Force, in which - due to the then valid racial segregation in the USA - only African Americans served. "These were even more hostile to Nazi propaganda," says Hoffmann.
"Manning was to be lynched by a local group leader, but this was initially prevented by military soldiers, and he was then given relative safety to the airbornehorst Horsching, and local party officials and Nazi officers attempted to gain access to Manning to take him to the Lynchjustiz Days, Manning was severely mistreated and finally hanged in front of the Horstkommandantur, with a blackboard round his neck, saying, 'We are fighting back,' Hoffmann says.
It is particularly tragic that the case was quickly forgotten in the USA. The perpetrators were known, but they were never questioned and never taken. Manning's mortal remains lie on a French military cemetery.".
Awards and Decorations for 2nd Lt Walter P Manning include but are not limited to:
European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (EAME), Air Medal, with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, and Purple Heart Medal.
2nd Lt Walter P Manning, NOK listing was his Mother Mrs. Winifred S Manning, 4200 Powelton, Ave., Philadelphia, PA. Postwar, May 1950 address: 6137 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA.
Lt Manning is interred at the Lorraine American Cemetery, France: Plot K, Row 36, Grave 37,
https://www.abmc.gov/node/537599#.WZRo_eSWyM9
Other sources:
NARA enlistment record
https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=WR26&tf=F&q=33592772&bc=sl&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=4065713
Army Air Forces combat loss, Missing air Crew Report No. 13377 (4 pages)
https://www.fold3.com/image/29431805
Photo source fold3.com
https://www.fold3.com/page/630028880_walter_manning/
2nd Lt Walter P Manning, POW Murder account
http://sciencev2.orf.at/stories/1757096/index.html
Fields of Honor Database page for Lt Manning
https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-lorraine-m/78208-manning-walter-p-lor-k-36-37
Also see ABMC
https://www.abmc.gov/node/537599#.WZRn9lGGOM8
Bio and source data compiled courtesy
Vindicator I
On 1 April 1945 Lt Manning was on a bomber escort mission to St. Polten, Austria flying his Mustang P-51B-15-NA-42-106943 with eight other planes in his flight. In the Wels, Austria area, about 15 miles southwest of Linz, Austria the squadron became engaged in a dog fight with Luftwaffe aircraft. Lt Manning was shot down in the Wels area but was able to bail out, to become a POW. F/O William P Armstrong, ASN: T-66139 was also shot down in this same action, KIA crashing with his plane.
Sadly, two days later Lt Walter P Manning an unarmed POW was murdered by the Nazis, not an uncommon fate for downed allied airmen late in the war. The following is an account of what happened in Lt Manning’s case as investigated by Austrian Historian Georg Hoffmann:
"A particularly tragic event occurred on 1 April 1945 in Linz-Hörsching. Walter Manning, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, was affected. This is an air force organization of the US Army Air Force, in which - due to the then valid racial segregation in the USA - only African Americans served. "These were even more hostile to Nazi propaganda," says Hoffmann.
"Manning was to be lynched by a local group leader, but this was initially prevented by military soldiers, and he was then given relative safety to the airbornehorst Horsching, and local party officials and Nazi officers attempted to gain access to Manning to take him to the Lynchjustiz Days, Manning was severely mistreated and finally hanged in front of the Horstkommandantur, with a blackboard round his neck, saying, 'We are fighting back,' Hoffmann says.
It is particularly tragic that the case was quickly forgotten in the USA. The perpetrators were known, but they were never questioned and never taken. Manning's mortal remains lie on a French military cemetery.".
Awards and Decorations for 2nd Lt Walter P Manning include but are not limited to:
European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (EAME), Air Medal, with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, and Purple Heart Medal.
2nd Lt Walter P Manning, NOK listing was his Mother Mrs. Winifred S Manning, 4200 Powelton, Ave., Philadelphia, PA. Postwar, May 1950 address: 6137 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA.
Lt Manning is interred at the Lorraine American Cemetery, France: Plot K, Row 36, Grave 37,
https://www.abmc.gov/node/537599#.WZRo_eSWyM9
Other sources:
NARA enlistment record
https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=WR26&tf=F&q=33592772&bc=sl&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=4065713
Army Air Forces combat loss, Missing air Crew Report No. 13377 (4 pages)
https://www.fold3.com/image/29431805
Photo source fold3.com
https://www.fold3.com/page/630028880_walter_manning/
2nd Lt Walter P Manning, POW Murder account
http://sciencev2.orf.at/stories/1757096/index.html
Fields of Honor Database page for Lt Manning
https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-lorraine-m/78208-manning-walter-p-lor-k-36-37
Also see ABMC
https://www.abmc.gov/node/537599#.WZRn9lGGOM8
Bio and source data compiled courtesy
Vindicator I
Walter P Manning enlisted into the Army Air Forces Aviation Cadet Program on 15 March 1943 entering at Philadelphia Pennsylvania, a native of Maryland, original ASN: 33592772. After pilot training graduation he was Commissioned a Second Lieutenant, officer ASN: O-828053 Walter deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in August 1944, serving as a pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen operating from Ramitelli Air Base, Italy assigned to the 301st Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, 15th Air Force.
On 1 April 1945 Lt Manning was on a bomber escort mission to St. Polten, Austria flying his Mustang P-51B-15-NA-42-106943 with eight other planes in his flight. In the Wels, Austria area, about 15 miles southwest of Linz, Austria the squadron became engaged in a dog fight with Luftwaffe aircraft. Lt Manning was shot down in the Wels area but was able to bail out, to become a POW. F/O William P Armstrong, ASN: T-66139 was also shot down in this same action, KIA crashing with his plane.
Sadly, two days later Lt Walter P Manning an unarmed POW was murdered by the Nazis, not an uncommon fate for downed allied airmen late in the war. The following is an account of what happened in Lt Manning’s case as investigated by Austrian Historian Georg Hoffmann:
"A particularly tragic event occurred on 1 April 1945 in Linz-Hörsching. Walter Manning, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, was affected. This is an air force organization of the US Army Air Force, in which - due to the then valid racial segregation in the USA - only African Americans served. "These were even more hostile to Nazi propaganda," says Hoffmann.
"Manning was to be lynched by a local group leader, but this was initially prevented by military soldiers, and he was then given relative safety to the airbornehorst Horsching, and local party officials and Nazi officers attempted to gain access to Manning to take him to the Lynchjustiz Days, Manning was severely mistreated and finally hanged in front of the Horstkommandantur, with a blackboard round his neck, saying, 'We are fighting back,' Hoffmann says.
It is particularly tragic that the case was quickly forgotten in the USA. The perpetrators were known, but they were never questioned and never taken. Manning's mortal remains lie on a French military cemetery.".
Awards and Decorations for 2nd Lt Walter P Manning include but are not limited to:
European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (EAME), Air Medal, with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, and Purple Heart Medal.
2nd Lt Walter P Manning, NOK listing was his Mother Mrs. Winifred S Manning, 4200 Powelton, Ave., Philadelphia, PA. Postwar, May 1950 address: 6137 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA.
Lt Manning is interred at the Lorraine American Cemetery, France: Plot K, Row 36, Grave 37,
https://www.abmc.gov/node/537599#.WZRo_eSWyM9
Other sources:
NARA enlistment record
https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=WR26&tf=F&q=33592772&bc=sl&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=4065713
Army Air Forces combat loss, Missing air Crew Report No. 13377 (4 pages)
https://www.fold3.com/image/29431805
Photo source fold3.com
https://www.fold3.com/page/630028880_walter_manning/
2nd Lt Walter P Manning, POW Murder account
http://sciencev2.orf.at/stories/1757096/index.html
Fields of Honor Database page for Lt Manning
https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-lorraine-m/78208-manning-walter-p-lor-k-36-37
Also see ABMC
https://www.abmc.gov/node/537599#.WZRn9lGGOM8
Bio and source data compiled courtesy
Vindicator I
On 1 April 1945 Lt Manning was on a bomber escort mission to St. Polten, Austria flying his Mustang P-51B-15-NA-42-106943 with eight other planes in his flight. In the Wels, Austria area, about 15 miles southwest of Linz, Austria the squadron became engaged in a dog fight with Luftwaffe aircraft. Lt Manning was shot down in the Wels area but was able to bail out, to become a POW. F/O William P Armstrong, ASN: T-66139 was also shot down in this same action, KIA crashing with his plane.
Sadly, two days later Lt Walter P Manning an unarmed POW was murdered by the Nazis, not an uncommon fate for downed allied airmen late in the war. The following is an account of what happened in Lt Manning’s case as investigated by Austrian Historian Georg Hoffmann:
"A particularly tragic event occurred on 1 April 1945 in Linz-Hörsching. Walter Manning, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, was affected. This is an air force organization of the US Army Air Force, in which - due to the then valid racial segregation in the USA - only African Americans served. "These were even more hostile to Nazi propaganda," says Hoffmann.
"Manning was to be lynched by a local group leader, but this was initially prevented by military soldiers, and he was then given relative safety to the airbornehorst Horsching, and local party officials and Nazi officers attempted to gain access to Manning to take him to the Lynchjustiz Days, Manning was severely mistreated and finally hanged in front of the Horstkommandantur, with a blackboard round his neck, saying, 'We are fighting back,' Hoffmann says.
It is particularly tragic that the case was quickly forgotten in the USA. The perpetrators were known, but they were never questioned and never taken. Manning's mortal remains lie on a French military cemetery.".
Awards and Decorations for 2nd Lt Walter P Manning include but are not limited to:
European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (EAME), Air Medal, with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, and Purple Heart Medal.
2nd Lt Walter P Manning, NOK listing was his Mother Mrs. Winifred S Manning, 4200 Powelton, Ave., Philadelphia, PA. Postwar, May 1950 address: 6137 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA.
Lt Manning is interred at the Lorraine American Cemetery, France: Plot K, Row 36, Grave 37,
https://www.abmc.gov/node/537599#.WZRo_eSWyM9
Other sources:
NARA enlistment record
https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=WR26&tf=F&q=33592772&bc=sl&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=4065713
Army Air Forces combat loss, Missing air Crew Report No. 13377 (4 pages)
https://www.fold3.com/image/29431805
Photo source fold3.com
https://www.fold3.com/page/630028880_walter_manning/
2nd Lt Walter P Manning, POW Murder account
http://sciencev2.orf.at/stories/1757096/index.html
Fields of Honor Database page for Lt Manning
https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-lorraine-m/78208-manning-walter-p-lor-k-36-37
Also see ABMC
https://www.abmc.gov/node/537599#.WZRn9lGGOM8
Bio and source data compiled courtesy
Vindicator I
Inscription
WALTER P. MANNING
2 LT 301 FTR SQ 332 FTR GP
PENNSYLVANIA APR 3 1945
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Pennsylvania 15 March 1943 .
