Ulmer J. Newman
13th Air Force (13th AF), 307th Bomb Group (307th BG)
B-24 Liberator Pilot

Background
Ulmer Justin Newman was born on September 16, 1916 in Robert Lee, Texas and grew up in Dallas. He attended high school and worked as a sales person. Enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) on September 6, 1940 as an aviation cadet with serial number 18006257. After attending flight school earned his wings and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-413484.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 307th Bombardment Group (307th BG) as a B-24 Liberator pilot leading "combat crew no. 7". During late 1942 until lost on February 16, 1943 he and his crew usually flew B-24D "Bundles For Japan" 41-23969. Afterwards, he often flew B-24 #266.

On December 22, 1942 took off piloting piloting B-24D "Bundles For Japan" 41-23969 on a night bombing mission against Wake Island after midnight and returned to land on December 23, 1942 at 6:45am at Midway Airfield.

On February 15, 1943 took off piloting B-24D "Bundles For Japan" 41-23969 on a night bombing mission. Returning on February 16, 1943 the crew bailed out and bomber crashed. Newman and the other crew were aided ashore by natives and given food and shelter. Afterwards, the local people were able to notify coastwatcher Donald G. Kennedy at Segi (Seghe) on New Georgia who informed U.S. forces by radio and later returned to Guadalcanal.

During May 1943 Newman resumed flying daylight missions in the Solomon Islands in search of enemy shipping off Buka and Bougainville. On these missions, Captain Newman and Lt. Flood sank three 125' to 150' coastal vessels.


Awards
Newman earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) from Lt. General Millard F. Harmon during 1943 in the South Pacific.

Postwar
Newman continued in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and served in the Korean War and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Memorials
Newman passed away on February 19, 2001 at age 84. He is buried at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery at section 10 site 330.

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Ulmer J. Newman
Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) Air Base Headquarters Special Orders Number 68, October 19, 1942 page 2 (Annex "A" Combat Crew #7) page 5
CINCPAC "Action Report - Night Bombardment Raid, Wake Island 22-23 December 1942" December 26, 1942
Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) "1st Combat Reports Mission - Wake Dec. 22-23 1942
Mission Report Aircraft No. 989 [41-23969] pages 1-2
Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) Historical Data 370th Bombardment Squadron 1 July 1942 to 30 September 1942 page 14
(Page 14) "...the air echelon reached Espiritu Santo without incident. Several crews [including this B-24] were sent to Henderson Field Guadalcanal and went on their first combat mission from this base on Feb. 16th [sic February 15, 1943 take off night mission returning February 16, 1943]. Targets were Kahili and Ballale Airdromes. Due to adverse weather which prevented landing during darkness, two planes, piloted by Captain Krebs [B-24D "Queenie Take It Off" 41-23870] and Newman [B-24D "Bundles For Japan" 41-23969] ran out of gasoline and were forced to abandon their planes. Captain Krebs made a water landing and Captain Newman had his crew parachute to safety. During the next few days, Navy PBY's rescued all survivors. Casualties were 2 officer [Shirley] and 2 enlisted men killed [Knisley and Chudzik]; 1 enlisted man missing [Gartland]; 7 officers and 5 enlisted men injured."
(Page 15)
"Many daylight prowls were made for enemy shipping in the Buka and Bougainville Island area. Captain Newman and Lt. Flood sank three 125 to 150 feet [sic foot] long Jap coastal vessels while on these missions."
The Salt Tablet "Bundles For Japan" Began New Move In Long Range Pacific Air Combat" Vol. 2 No. 47 November 25, 1943 page 5
"There have been Bundles for Britain, Bundles for Belgium and many similar bundles. But 'Bundles For Japan' was something else again. A sturdy Liberator bomber, winged her way back over 2150 miles of ocean leading 25 other Liberators from the now-famous raid on Wake Island.
Her pilot Major Ulmer J. Newman, 27-year old native of Dallas, Texas, stooped off at Second Army Air Force headquarters, Colorado Springs, Colorado, today en route to a new station...
Asked what became of “Bundles For Japan,” Major Newman replied: 'We were forced down in the water during a storm and landed near an island. Some of the crew members swam ashore. Three were lost. Natives came out and picked me up. They hid us from the Japanese, later took us back to our home base.
'The chief’s wife spent half a day preparing something like a meat loaf… only it was all vegetables and no meat. It didn't taste like American food, but it was good and the chief’s wife was proud as she watched us put it away."
FindAGrave - Ulmer Justin Newman (photos, obituary, grave photos)
Thanks to James McCabe / 307th Bomb Group Association for additional information

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