John Leslie Munro
Born 5 Apr 1919 - Died 4 Aug 2015
- Service number
- WWII NZ413942 AWMM
- Also known as
- Les Munro AWMM
- Les AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- WW2 Squadron Leader AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
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- Forenames
- John Leslie AWMM
- Surname
- Munro AWMM
- Ingoa
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- Also known as
- Les Munro AWMM
- Les AWMM
- Service number
- WWII NZ413942 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 5 Apr 1919 AWMM
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
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- Post war occupation
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- Next of kin
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- Relationship status
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Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- Battle of the Ruhr AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- WWII NZ413942 AWMM
- Military service
- Royal Air Force, No. 97 Squadron AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 617 Squadron AWMM
'Dambusters' Squadron AWMM - Royal Air Force, No. 1690 Bomber (Defence) Training Flight AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 617 Squadron AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 97 Squadron AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
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Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) AWMM
02 Jun 1997 AWMM - Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) AWMM
28 Apr 1944 AWMM
Operation Chastise 16/17 May 1943 (see Pages 76 - 78 New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force VII for details. AWMM - Companion of the Queen's Service Order (QSO) AWMM
15 Jun 1991 AWMM - Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) AWMM
11 Jun 1943 AWMM - Chevalier, Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur (France) AWMM
14 Apr 2015 AWMM - War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 4 Service Flying Training Schools, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada AWMM
Course 1: Class 42. Graduation Date: 28/02/1942. AWMM - Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- 1941 AWMM Farmer/Civilian AWMM
- Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Vessel was Mariposa AWMM Pilot Officer Martin (2008) Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
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Last known rank
- Last rank
- WW2 Squadron Leader AWMM
- Last rank
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Biographical information
- Dave Homewood's Wings Over New Zealand Show podcast episodes with the interview they did with Les.
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/87947
would like to let you know that due to a change with the server for the WONZ Show near the end of last year the direct links to episodes changed. So the links for the two episodes are now thus:
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2014/07/episode-70-les-munro-part-one/
and
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2014/07/episode-71-les-munro-part-two/Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 26 July 2016 - Dave Homewood
About death
- Death
- 4 Aug 2015 AWMM
Age 96 AWMM - Date of death
- 4 August 2015Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 13 June 2022 - Te Kuiti Cemetery Records
- Age at death
- 96yrsPublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 13 June 2022 - Te Kuiti Cemetery Records
- Place of death
- TaurangaPublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 13 June 2022 - Te Kuiti Cemetery Records
- Cause of death
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- Death notes
- Leslie Munro was cremated and his ashes were buried in the New Te Kuiti Cemetery with his wife, Betty Joan, who was also cremated. They are buried in Blk GMEM, Plot 15Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 13 June 2022 - Te Kuiti Cemetery Records
- Cemetery
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- Cemetery name
- Te Kuiti New CemeteryPublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 13 June 2022 - Te Kuiti Cemetery Records
- Grave reference
- Blk GMEM, Plot 15Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 13 June 2022 - Te Kuiti Cemetery Records
- Obituary
- Les Munro, the last surviving pilot from the legendary Dambusters raids against Nazi Germany, has died at the age of 96.
John Leslie Munro, known as Les, was one of 19 heroic pilots from the famous 617 Squadron who took part in the daring 'bouncing bomb' attacks on German dams in 1943.
The raids, which saw drum-shaped bombs bounced off the water before exploding against the dam walls, have gone down in history as some of the finest wartime aerial assaults and have also been credited with changing the course of the Second World War.
He died this morning in hospital in his native New Zealand, following what his friends described as a 'lifetime all about service'. The pilot's death, which came following heart problems, leaves just two surviving crew members of the Dambusters missions.
Friends today described how Squadron Leader Munro had a 'special aura' about him and was regarded among his peers as being 'invincible'.
He also felt an 'overwhelming sense of responsibility' to preserve the memory of the RAF Bomber Command and became an international touchstone, representing the gallantry of those who fought and died during the Second World War.
But, in a nod to his characteristic humility, they revealed how Sqn Ldr Munro was always 'a little embarrassed' about the attention he received as a Dambuster.
During the squadron's first - and arguably most pivotal - raid, Sqn Ldr Munro's aircraft was hit by flak and had to be flown back to the UK with a gaping hole in its side, to save the lives of his crew.
According to reports, the brave pilot feared that he had 'not achieved' what he set out to do. But he was later praised for his courage, receiving a Distinguished Flying Cross for his leadership and being remembered through generations for his incredible bravery.Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 10 October 2015 - The Telegraph - 9 October 2015 - Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
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Sources
- External links
- Les Munro, Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Munro
Further Reference - J.N. Houterman. "Royal New Zealand Air Force Officers 1939-1945". Unithistories.com
http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RNZAF_officers.html
Further Reference - "Kiwi servicemen receive Legion of Honour". 3 News. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/kiwi-servicemen-receive-legion-of-honour-2015041418#axzz3XGNF8WsN
Further Reference - The Wings Over New Zealand Show Aviation Podcast, Episode 70 - Les Munro Part One (April 2010).
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show_61_70.html#LesMunro1
Further Reference - The Wings Over New Zealand Show Aviation Podcast, Episode 71 - Les Munro Part Two (April 2010).
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show_71_80.html#Les_Munro_2#Dambusters
Further Reference - 'A fitting fly-over farewell for Dambuster pilot Les Munro', Bay of PLenty Times, 8 August 2015
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11494165
Further Reference - Wikidata Entity
http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q6529765
Further Reference
- Les Munro, Wikipedia.
- References
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
v.3, p.598 - This record is a work in progress and was partially compiled from the “Database of New Zealand Airmen who took part in Advanced Air Training in Canada during WW2”. Researched by Ivan and Lorna Lindsey of Tauranga. N.Z. 2003 – 2012. Reproduced with permission.
- Herald on Sunday
Medals Won by Veteran and Belong to Him. 15 Mar 2015 - List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - Embarkation Lists, November 1940 - July 1942. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845762).
- Royal New Zealand Air Force. (1941–1945). Contact: National magazine of the R.N.Z.A.F.; the official organ of the Air Force Association (Inc.). Levin, New Zealand: Royal New Zealand Air Force.
V7,n4,p58 v4,n1,p66,75 - RAF Bomber Command Association (NZ). (1993). Membership listing by squadron [Membership list]. Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira.
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
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