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This article was originally one of a set of memoranda available only on paper in The National Archives' reading rooms. It acted as a signpost to records of interest on a particular historical subject. It may have been compiled many years ago and could be out of date. Please feel free to edit this page to improve the information

BARON FRANZ VON WERRA - THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

Document reference AIR 22/266, pages 42 and 51, contains references to the time and location of enemy aircraft brought down on 5 September 1940. Baron Franz Von Werra's ME 109 was shot down at 10.10 hours and crashed in Loves Farm, Marden, Kent. Also given is a description of the plane and damage details.

AIR 50/18 pages 455 and 456 contains the combat report, dated 5 September 1940, of the pilot who was responsible for the shooting down of Baron Franz Werra's ME 109, Flight Lieutenant John Terence Webster of 31 Squadron.

A search of the operation record book for 41 Squadron, AIR 27/428 revealed no other additional information in relation to the above incident.

Baron Franz von Werra was taken to the London District Cage for Prisoners of War in Kensington Palace Gardens on 6 September 1940, where he was interrogated; and then on to Trent Park, Cockfosters, on 7 September 1940, where he was kept for four days, and then transferred to Number 1 Grizedale Hall, Satterthwaite Prisoner of War Camp. After trying to make his first escape from this camp on 7 October 1940, he was transferred, on 3 November 1940, to 13 Swanwick Prisoners of War Officers Transit Camp, where he attempted to escape again. A search in the following classes of records for documents in relation to the Prisoner of War Camps mentioned, proved unsuccessful.

Catalogue Reference	Description
WO 177	War diaries, Medical Services, 1939-1946.
WO 166	War diaries, Home Forces, 1939-1946.
FO 939	Control Office, Prisoner of War, 1940-1950
WO 199	Military Headquarters papers: Home Forces, 1914-1956.

On his escape from 13 Swanwick Prisoner of War Officers Transit Camp, Baron Franz Von Werra made his way to Hucknall, Royal Air Force Station, where, posing as a Dutch pilot Captain Van Lott, he asked for a plane to be prepared for him. However, staff at Hucknall, Royal Air Force Station established he was an escaped prisoner of war and recaptured him. Details concerning this incident on 21 December 1940 can be found in AIR 28/390, Hucknall, Royal Air Force Station operation record book.

After this attempted escape, Baron Franz Von Werra was sent back to 13 Swanwick Prisoners of War Officers Transit Camp on 22 December 1940. He remained there until 9 January 1941, where upon it was decided that he should be sent to Canada. He left Britain on the ship, Duchess of York, which left Greenock, Scotland on the evening of 19 January 1941, landing in Halifax, Canada on 23 January 1941. It was from the train that was to take Baron Franz Von Werra from Halifax, Canada to another prisoner of war camp that he made his third and successful escape. Details concerning this escape from Canada to Germany using a false diplomatic passport can be found in the document reference FO 371/28765.

The Air Historical Branchor the Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ, may hold information concerning Baron Franz Von Werra.

A feature film, "The One That Got Away" starring Hardy Kruger, based on Baron Franz Von Werra's exploit, has been made (1957) and there is also a book about Baron Franz Von Werra, the title of which is also The One That Got Away by Kendal Burt and James Leasor, published London, 1956.