15 Facts About Alfie Fripp

Alfie Fripp was shot down by the Luftwaffe in 1939 and held in twelve different prisoner of war camps, including Stalag Luft III, later the site of the "Great Escape".

Alfie Fripp's father was a regular in the Royal Marines and, from the age of twelve, Alfie Fripp had planned to become an artificer apprentice in the Royal Navy.

Alfie Fripp failed the medical exam as he was almost four inches shorter than the requirement.

Alfie Fripp enlisted in the RAF on 30 September 1930 at RAF Halton, and in 1932 transferred to training for wireless operators.

Three days after the declaration of war on 3 September 1939, just before 57 Squadron was called to duty, Alfie Fripp married Vera Violet Allen.

Alfie Fripp was imprisoned at Stalag Luft III, the site of an escape attempt by an international group of prisoners of war in March 1944.

Alfie Fripp was moved to another stalag two months before the escape.

Alfie Fripp was held in eleven other prison camps, in which he often served as a representative of the Red Cross.

Alfie Fripp continued to serve in the RAF until 1969 and attained the rank of Squadron Leader.

In 2009, Alfie Fripp returned to Stalag Luft III, where he and others commemorated his fallen comrades.

Alfie Fripp worked for ten years before retiring at the age of 65.

Alfie Fripp's nephew Robert Fripp is a guitarist and founding member of King Crimson.

Alfie Fripp died in hospital in Bournemouth on 3 January 2013 at the age of 98.

Alfie Fripp was the oldest surviving Second World War British prisoner of war.

Alfie Fripp's wife had earlier died at the age of 84.