Longest-serving British WWII POW passes

[LVSteve]

Squadron Leader Alfie Fripp, the longest-serving British prisoner of war during World War II, has died aged 98. S/L Fripp was the last of the "39'rs", i.e., UK military who were captured in 1939 and spent virtually the whole war as a POW. He was a career RAF officer having joined up in 1930, survived a flying boat accident in 1936 and a crash in a Bristol Blenheim in 1938. He was in another Blenheim on a recce mission when he was shot down and captured in 1939.

The pilot of Alfie's plane was one of those murdered after the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III. Alfie survived the Long March of POWs in March 1945 and stayed in the RAF after the war, retiring in 1967. RIP, sir.

Alfie Fripp, oldest surviving and longest-serving British prisoner of war, dies age 98 - Home News - UK - The Independent

BBC News - Alfie Fripp, prisoner of war at Stalag Luft III, dies aged 98

 

[HAWKEYE10]

Rest in piece and prayers for his family. Don

 

[mc5aw]

Unfortunately, our present media culture and general population have minimal (if any) interest in heroes like S/L Fripp, preferring Lohans and Kardashians and Jersey Shore cretins.

S/L Fripp is a man of history, and we lost a bit more history with his passing.

 

[Comrad]

According to the VA we are losing WWII vets at a rate of about 680 a day.

 

[olcop]

British POW

According to the VA we are losing WWII vets at a rate of about 680 a day.

I can believe that, a few years ago I was at Quantico for my son's graduation from Warrant Officer School, we got there about an hour early and decided to tour the Veterans Cemetery there, there was about 10 funerals going on at the same time and dozens if not hundreds of new graves evident.
I got so upset that my wife made me leave, the greatest generation is leaving us at a rapidly escalating rate.
God Bless them all
olcop