Flight Lieutenant WILLIAM ELLIS NEWTON

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.