2nd Lt Walter P Manning enlisted into military service on 15 March 1943 entering at Philadelphia Pennsylvania, a native of Maryland, original ASN: 33592772. Commissioned a Second Lieutenant, officer ASN: O-828053 served as a pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen operating from Ramitelli Air Base, Italy assigned to the 301st FS, 332nd FG, 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:
"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.".

2nd Lt Walter P Manning, NOK listing was his Mother Mrs. Winifred S Manning, 4200 Powelton, Ave., 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

AAF combat loss, MACR 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

Lt Manning POW murder also noted here, search Manning
https://www.oeaw.ac.at/veranstaltun.../2015/41tage/41-tage-kriegsende-1945-english/

Also see ABMC
https://www.abmc.gov/node/537599#.WZRn9lGGOM8

2nd Lt Walter Peyton Manning

Photo courtesy Raf Dyckmans of the Fields of Honor Database Research Team, and members of "Faces of Lorraine American Cemetery". Photo taken 26 August 2017.

Fields of Honor page for Lt Manning has also been updated

https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-lorraine-m/78208-manning-walter-p-lor-k-36-37

2nd Lt Walter P Manning memorial service held April 2018 at the Linz Hörsching, Vogler Air Base, Austria. Article published in 'The Philadelphia Inquirer', PA Sunday 22 April 2018.

Source/Credit
https://www.newspapers.com/image/423593207

2nd Lt Walter P Manning memorial plaque dedicated on April 3, 2018 at the Linz Hörsching, Vogler Air Base, Austria.

U.S. Department of Defense Video:
https://dod.defense.gov/News/Special-Reports/Videos/?videoid=596735

courtesy
U.S. Embassy Vienna

Lt Col Harry Stewart (USAF Ret) saluting, Lt Walter P Manning memorial plaque unveiled 3 April 2018 at the Linz Hörsching, Vogler Air Base, Austria. Lt Col Harry Stewart was flying with Lt Manning when downed.

Photo courtesy
U.S. Embassy Vienna

The memorial service for 2nd Lt. Walter P. Manning at Linz Hoersching Air Force base in Austria on April 3, 2018.

Source/Credit/Courtesy
Georg Hoffmann Austrian Historian

Loss record for Lt Manning

AAF combat loss, MACR 13377 (4 pages)
https://www.fold3.com/image/29431805

Walter Peyton Manning, Selective Service Card (front)

Walter Peyton Manning, Selective Service Card (back)

Lt Manning, PA veteran Comp App., applied for by his Mother 13 May 1950.

Photo courtesy Raf Dyckmans of the Fields of Honor Database Research Team, and members of "Faces of Lorraine American Cemetery". Photo taken 26 August 2017.

Fields of Honor page for Lt Manning has also been updated

https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-lorraine-m/78208-manning-walter-p-lor-k-36-37

Photo courtesy Raf Dyckmans of the Fields of Honor Database Research Team, and members of "Faces of Lorraine American Cemetery". Photo taken 26 August 2017.

Fields of Honor page for Lt Manning has also been updated

https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-lorraine-m/78208-manning-walter-p-lor-k-36-37