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| PERSONALIA |
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| Name: |
Newton, William Ellis |
| Date of birth: | June 8th, 1919 (St.Kilda, Victoria, Australia)
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| Date of death: |
March 29th, 1943 (Salamaua, New Guinea)
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| Nationality: |
Australian |
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VICTORIA CROSS (VC)
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Rank:
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Flight Lieutenant
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Unit:
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22 Squadron , Royal Australian Air Force
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Awarded on:
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November 30th, 1945
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Action:
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On 16 March 1943 Flight Lieutenant Newton’s plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire several times during an air raid on a large fuel depot in New Guinea. Despite the bad condition of his plane he managed to drop his bomb load and returned to his base safely. During a mission on the next day his plane was hit again and the plane was set on fire. Flight Lieutenant Newton was forced to touch down on enemy ground, and he and his flight sergeant were captured. During this capture the Japanese executed them both.
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Details:
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Flight Sergeant Newton’s Victoria Cross is publicly displayed at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
William Ellis Newton is buried at the Lae War Cemetery, Papua, New Guinea.
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