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On 24 March 1944, when the break-out occurred, prisoners were spotted escaping as the tunnel ended in the open ground between the camp fence and the tree line. Nunn was still inside the camp when this occurred, though he had planned to pose as a French businessman and cycle to neutral
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in 1957, where he served on the staff of the South-East Asia Treaty
Organisation that he had helped create. His final posting, from 1963 to 1966, was to the Operational Requirements branch of the Air Department in the newly expanded
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308:. On 3 October 1941, his commission was confirmed. He was appointed head of the mathematics faculty of Stalag Luft III's extensive educational programme. His assistance was sought by Squadron Leader
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upon his escape. He rarely spoke of the Great Escape given that his slight miscalculation led to the tunnel being discovered while it was in use; something he described as his lifelong regret.
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dated to 1 September 1945. He was promoted to squadron leader on 1 August 1947. He specialised in navigation and intelligence during this period, and he was posted to
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to come to a figure as it could not be found using the usual method of pacing for fear the guards would discover their plans. However, the tunnel proved too short.
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Nunn was married to Joan (née Kelly) who had been an RAF doctor. Together, they had a son and a daughter. Joan died in 1989 and he did not remarry.
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on 1 April 1946 with seniority from 1 July 1945. On 24 December 1946, it was gazetted that he had transferred to the
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784:"MF2 The Augsburg Raid signed Wing Commander JL Nunn DFC AE BSc MRAES & H Wilson DFM"
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In 1966, following his retirement from the RAF, Nunn joined the government branch of
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164:(RAF) officer, mathematician, and politician. He served as an RAF pilot during the
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on 1 January 1954 as part of the half-yearly promotions. He was posted to the
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Nunn died on 3 July 2013, aged 94. A memorial service was held on 26 July at
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On 16 March 1943 with effect from 9 September 1942, Nunn was awarded the
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in 1938, when he was studying for his degree. Having held the rank of
713:"Tributes to Great Escaper and former Mayor of Winchester, John Nunn"
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On 16 August 1941, Nunn was shot down over
Belgium while on a
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British Royal Air Force officer, mathematician, and politician
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from 1992 to 1993. He stepped down from the council in 1994.
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398:. His squadron patrolled the Mediterranean in the run up to
222:. He graduated in 1939 gaining a Bachelor of Science (BSc).
218:, north London. He went on to study maths and statistics at
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Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II
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on a permanent commission. He retained his wartime rank of
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Nunn retired from the Royal Air Force on 11 April 1966.
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joint planning staff to assist in the creation of the
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Participants in the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III
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in July 1941, continuing to fly the Avro
Manchester.
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Military personnel from the London
Borough of Barnet
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168:and, having been taken prisoner, was involved in
258:on 3 December 1939 that he had been promoted to
523:(DFC). It was awarded for landing his damaged
1012:World War II prisoners of war held by Germany
877:(Supplement). 20 December 1946. p. 6241.
378:. From December 1955 to January 1957, he was
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160:(11 April 1919 – 3 July 2013) was a British
917:(Supplement). 29 December 1953. p. 63.
340:to the United Kingdom in 1945. He was made
297:, Germany. Following interrogation by Nazi
937:(Supplement). 15 April 1966. p. 4728.
897:(Supplement). 1 August 1947. p. 3661.
262:back dated to 3 October. He was posted to
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857:(Supplement). 7 May 1946. p. 2236.
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426:. He retired from the company in 1982.
1002:Royal Air Force pilots of World War II
747:. 10 October 1939. pp. 6799–6800.
301:intelligence officers, he was sent to
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1037:Alumni of University College London
1032:People educated at Mill Hill School
977:Conservative Party (UK) councillors
376:South-East Asia Treaty Organisation
1007:British World War II bomber pilots
270:. He completed 14 operations with
195:Nunn was born on 11 April 1919 in
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837:. 30 December 1941. p. 7382.
244:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
232:University of London Air Squadron
767:. 3 December 1940. p. 6866.
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266:and flew bombing sorties over
203:, England. He was educated at
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429:In 1982, Nunn was elected a
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668:"Wing Commander John Nunn"
565:with Bomber Command clasp
548:Distinguished Flying Cross
521:Distinguished Flying Cross
130:Distinguished Flying Cross
220:University College London
402:in 1956. He was post to
396:maritime patrol aircraft
786:. Aviation Collectables
479:Honours and decorations
438:Winchester City Council
278:bomber. He then joined
246:on 3 October 1939 as a
268:German–occupied Europe
372:Ministry of Defence's
366:Nunn was promoted to
87:Years of service
1027:People from Finchley
982:Mayors of Winchester
952:Obituary – The Times
620:Air Efficiency Award
578:Air Crew Europe Star
465:Hambledon, Hampshire
392:Lockheed P-2 Neptune
384:No. 210 Squadron RAF
306:prisoner-of-war camp
272:No. 207 Squadron RAF
134:Air Efficiency Award
109:No. 210 Squadron RAF
987:20th-century mayors
717:Hampshire Chronicle
606:War Medal 1939–1945
454:Mayor of Winchester
409:Ministry of Defence
400:Operation Musketeer
280:No. 97 Squadron RAF
250:. He was given the
187:from 1992 to 1993.
185:Mayor of Winchester
934:The London Gazette
914:The London Gazette
894:The London Gazette
874:The London Gazette
854:The London Gazette
834:The London Gazette
814:The London Gazette
764:The London Gazette
744:The London Gazette
431:Conservative Party
380:Commanding Officer
359:where he flew the
264:RAF Bomber Command
178:Conservative Party
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116:Battles/wars
60:(2013-07-03)
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972:2013 deaths
967:1919 births
929:"No. 43955"
909:"No. 40061"
889:"No. 38035"
869:"No. 37827"
849:"No. 37560"
829:"No. 35398"
809:"No. 35940"
759:"No. 35005"
739:"No. 34705"
338:repatriated
326:Switzerland
274:flying the
212:boys school
58:3 July 2013
961:Categories
629:References
532:Düsseldorf
434:councillor
418:Later life
295:Düsseldorf
191:Early life
181:councillor
67:Allegiance
37:1919-04-11
672:The Times
450:Hambledon
386:based at
342:temporary
336:Nunn was
299:Luftwaffe
242:into the
238:, he was
216:Mill Hill
201:Middlesex
183:. He was
176:and as a
111:(1954–57)
90:1938–1966
50:, England
48:Middlesex
25:John Nunn
446:Soberton
442:Droxford
256:gazetted
236:sergeant
197:Finchley
105:Commands
75:Service/
44:Finchley
790:25 July
723:25 July
678:25 July
436:to the
404:Bangkok
209:private
550:(DFC)
126:Awards
77:branch
622:(AE)
155:
153:,
792:2013
725:2013
680:2013
448:and
394:, a
207:, a
95:Rank
55:Died
31:Born
424:IBM
382:of
214:in
174:IBM
150:DFC
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