NEWTON, William Ellis
| Service Number: | 250748 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 February 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | No. 22 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | St Kilda, Victoria, Australia, 8 June 1919 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Melbourne Grammar School |
| Occupation: | Salesman |
| Died: | Executed (beheaded - POW of Japan), Salamaua, New Guinea, 29 March 1943, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Lae War Cemetery Plot. S Row. A Grave. 4 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Bywong Flight Lieut. William Newton VC Memorial Rest Area, Cheltenham Flight Lieut. William Ellis Newton VC Memorial Plaque, Keith Payne VC Memorial Park, Melbourne Cricket Club WW2 Honour Roll, Narre Warren North War Memorial, North Bondi War Memorial, RAAF Wagga Mural Memorial - Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) |
World War 2 Service
| 5 Feb 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, 250748, No.1 Elementary Flying Training School Parafield, Parafield, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Feb 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 250748 | |
| 28 Dec 1940: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 250748, Central Flying School, Empire Air Training Scheme | |
| 28 Dec 1940: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, Central Flying School | |
| 30 Dec 1940: | Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, No. 2 Initial Training School Bradfield Park, Began training students under the Empire Air Training Scheme at No. 2 Service Flying Training School near Wagga Wagga | |
| 1 Mar 1942: | Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, No. 1 Operational Support Unit, Sent to No. 1 Operational Training Unit at Sale, Victoria for conversion to twin-engined light bombers | |
| 1 Apr 1942: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, No. 22 Squadron (RAAF), Based at RAAF Station Richmond, New South Wales | |
| 1 Nov 1942: | Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, No. 9 Squadron (RAAF), Port Moresby, New Guinea | |
| 16 Mar 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 250748, No. 22 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SW Pacific 1941-45, Ditched into the sea after bomber burst into flames due to cannon fire from the ground | |
| 19 Mar 1943: | Imprisoned Air War SW Pacific 1941-45 | |
| 29 Mar 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 250748, No. 22 Squadron (RAAF), Prisoners of War, After being captured by the Japanese and as a POW, he was beheaded | |
| 17 Aug 1943: | Honoured Victoria Cross |
Help us honour William Ellis Newton's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul Trevor
Newton, William Ellis (Bill) (1919–1943)
by Alan Stephens
William Ellis (Bill) Newton, air force officer, was born on 8 June 1919 at St Kilda, Melbourne, son of Australian-born parents Charles Ellis Newton, dentist, and his second wife Minnie, née Miller. Bill was educated to Intermediate certificate level at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, where his masters regarded him as having qualities of leadership. Six ft 3 ins (191 cm) tall and 16 stone (102 kg) in weight, he was a fine all-round sportsman who played cricket for the Victorian second XI. He worked in the silk-warehouse of Makower, McBeath & Co. Pty Ltd before enlisting in the Royal Australian Air Force on 5 February 1940. Newton qualified as a pilot and was commissioned in June. After serving as a flying instructor, he was posted in May 1942 to No.22 Squadron which was based in Port Moresby and equipped with Boston light bombers.
In fifty-two operational sorties—90 per cent of them flown through anti-aircraft fire—Flight Lieutenant Newton displayed exceptional courage and a remarkable determination to inflict the utmost damage on the enemy. Disdaining evasive tactics, he always 'went straight at his objective' to achieve maximum accuracy with his weapons. On one occasion his aircraft's starboard engine failed over the target, but he completed the attack and then flew 160 nautical miles (296 km) to a safe airfield. His exploits earned him the nickname of 'The Firebug': 'Wherever he flew he left a big fire behind him'.
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https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/newton-william-ellis-bill-11232 (adb.anu.edu.au)
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
The following details are given in the London Gazette of 15th October, 1943 : Flight Lieutenant Newton served with No. 22 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, in New Guinea from May 1942 to March 1943. Throughout he displayed great courage and an iron determination to inflict the utmost damage on the enemy. His splendid offensive flying and fighting were attended with brilliant success. When leading an attack on March 16th, 1943, his aircraft was hit repeatedly. Nevertheless he held to his course and bombed his target from low level. The attack resulted in the destruction of many buildings and dumps, including two 40,000 gallon fuel installations. Although his aircraft was crippled Flight Lieutenant Newton managed to fly back to base and land successfully. Returning next day to an even more difficult target in the same locality he attacked with his usual courage and resolution. At the moment of scoring a hit his aircraft burst into flames. He deemed it his duty to keep in the air as long as he could, to take his crew as far as possible from the enemy. With great skill he brought his aircraft down on the water. Two members of the crew were able to extricate themselves and were seen swimming to shore, but the gallant pilot was missing. Without regard to his own safety, he had done all that man could do to prevent his crew falling into enemy hands. Flight Lieutenant Newton's many examples of conspicuous bravery have rarely been equalled and will serve as a shining example to all who follow him.
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