FLTLT William "Bill" E. Newton
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), No. 22 Squadron
DB-7B Boston pilot Prisoner Of War (POW)

Background
William Ellis Newton was born June 8, 1919 to parents Charles Ellis Newton and Minnie Newton in St. Kilda a suburb of Melbourne in Australia. Nicknamed "Bill". He attended Melbourne Grammar School and was an excellent all-round sportsman, representing his school in cricket, football and swimming before being representing his state as a member of the Victorian 2nd Cricket Team.

During September 1939 at the start of World War II, Newton gave up his job in a Melbourne silk warehouse and enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and served as an instructor.  During May 1942, sent to New Guinea assigned to No. 22 Squadron flying DB-7 Bostons and flew a total of 52 combat missions with the squadron.

On March 16, 1943 took off piloting DB-7B Boston A28-7 leading a strike against Salamaua. Over the target, repeatedly hit by anti-aircraft fire that knocked out the right engine. Despite the damage, Newton pressed home his attack to bomb the target then flew 180 miles back to Port Moresby. For his actions, this mission, Newton would later earn the Victoria Cross.

Mission History
On March 18, 1943 took off piloting DB-7B Boston A28-3 as one of five Bostons from No. 22 Squadron on a strike against Salamaua.  Newton flew through heavy anti-aircraft fire and scored a direct hit on a building which had escaped damage in previous attacks.  Though at about the same time, Newton's aircraft caught fire, forcing him to ditch in the ocean.  Newton and one other crew member, John Lyon, survived and managed to get to shore. Newton's plane has never been found and his third crew member, Sgt Eastwood remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Fates of the Crew
Newton and Lyon survived the ditching and were last seen by the other Bostons wearing life vests and swimming towards the coast. The pair reached shore and briefly evaded detection until found by a patrol from the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) No. 1 Company commanded by Lt. Uichi Komai, Sasebo 5th Special Naval Landing Force (5th SNLF) and became Prisoners Of War (POW). Taken to Salamaua, the airmen were interrogated by Lt. Yamada, commander of the SNLF and the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) Okabe Detachment.

Next, they were embarked on a barge to Lae and handed over to Headquarters, 7 Naval Base Force under the command of Rear Admiral Ruitaro Fujita. Both were interrogated by his chief of staff, Lt. Commander Denmei Muchaku who spoke English. Next, the pair were handed to Army 82nd Kempeitai (82nd Military Police) under the command of Captain Ukai.

After a week in Lae, Newton was returned to Salamaua and returned to No. 1 Company, Sasebo 5th SNLF that captured him. As an officer, Newton was to be afforded the "honor" of execution by sword.

On March 29, 1943 at dusk, Newton was given a last drink of water and had his hands tied. Three Japanese officers Lt. Komai, a medical officer and HQ platoon commander with their swords arrived with roughly ten guards drove the prisoner in a truck to Kela Point. Newton was told by Lt. Komai "we are now going to kill you" and was allowed several minutes. Reportedly, Newton asked to be killed with one sword stroke then was made to kneel at the edge of a bomb crater filled with water as the guards surrounded him holding their rifles with fixed bayonets. Lt. Komai drew his sword and tapped it against Newton's neck with the back of the blade, then raised it above his head and swung with both hands, decapitating him with one stroke. His head fell into the crater and the body fell forward. The medical officer officer who was wounded during an Allied air raid, handed his sword to a guard and order him to cut open the body which he did then kicked it into the bomb crater. Afterwards, the Japanese departed. The execution was observed by Japanese meteorologist who wrote in his diary in an entry titled "Blood Carnival" that was later captured and translated he noted the prisoner was "more composed than I though he would be".

Recovery of Remains
Newton's remains were found near Kela Point in October 1943 by Mr. Carl Jacobsen working for the U.S. Army intelligence who was led to a bomb crater filled with water roughly 30' from Kela Point near the remains of a building in Chinatown. When the water was drained, a skeleton without a head was found face down with arms outstretched. All the bones were carefully recovered but the skull was never located. The left pelvic bone had evidence of being almost severed, confirming the body was likely mutilated. The remains had fragments of cloth trousers and an Australian shirt with laundry marks and was identified as Newton. On December 17, 1943 Newton was buried at Salamaua War Cemetery and later exhumed and transported to Lae for permanent burial.

Memorials
Newton was officially declared dead March 29, 1943 at age 23. He is buried at Lae War Cemetery at S. A. 4.

During late 1943, Nadzab No. 4 Airfield was named "Newton Field" in his honor.

On March 16, 2003 a memorial plaque devoted to No. 22 Squadron and Newton was dedicated by RAAF Air Marshal Angus Houston at the Australian War Memorial (AWM) on the sixty anniversary of the mission when Newton earned the Victoria Cross.

During 2004, a memorial plaque at RAAF Amberley was dedicated to the crew of Boston A28-3.

Victoria Cross
Newton was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery throughout constant attacks on Japanese positions at Salamaua.  According to details listed in his service record, Newton preferred not to take evasive action through anti-aircraft fire while bombing or strafing.

On March 16, 1942 piloting DB-7B Boston A28-7, Newton's was badly damaged, "Its fuselage and wings were badly torn, its petrol tanks pierced, its engines seriously damaged and one of its tyres holed".  However, Newton continued with the attack which resulted in the destruction of numerous buildings and fuel supplies belonging to the Japanese.  Having led this attack, F/Lt Newton then managed somehow to fly the damaged aircraft back to base and land safely without any injury to the crew.

On August 17, 1943 the Governor-General Lord Gowrie announced Newton was recommended for the Victoria Cross and the award was approved by King George VI and gazetted. During late October 1943, Newton's Victoria Cross was presented to his mother, Mrs Minnie Newton, by the Governor-General of Australia. Today, Newton's Victoria Cross (AWM Accession Number RELAWM32315.001) and other military medals are display at Australian War Memorial (AWM) in the Hall of Valour. Newton was the twelfth Australian to be awarded the Victoria Cross during the Second World War; the third for actions in New Guinea; and the only member of the RAAF to receive the award in the Pacific War.

Victoria Cross citation "Flight Lieutenant William Ellis Newton served with No. 22 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, in New Guinea from May 1942 to March 1943 and completed 52 operational sorties. 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. Disdaining evasive tactics when under the heaviest fire, he always went straight to his objective. He carried out many daring machine-gun attacks on enemy positions involving low-flying over long distances in the face of continuous fire at point-blank range. On three occasions, he dived through intense anti-aircraft fire to release his bombs on important targets on the Salamaua Isthmus. On one of these occasions, his starboard engine failed over the target, but he succeeded in flying back to an airfield 160 miles away. When leading an attack on an objective on 16 March 1943, he dived through intense and accurate shell fire and his aircraft was hit repeatedly. Nevertheless, he held to his course and bombed his target from low level. The attack resulted in destruction of many buildings and dumps, including two 40,000 gallon fuel installations. Although his aircraft was crippled, with fuselage and wing sections torn, petrol tanks pierced, main-planes and engines seriously damaged, and one of the main tyres fiat, Flight Lieutenant Newton managed to fly back to base and make a successful landing. Despite this harassing experience, he returned next day to the same locality. His target, this time a single building, was even more difficult but he again attacked with his usual courage and resolution, flying a steady course through a barrage of fire. He scored a hit on the building but at the same moment his aircraft burst into flames. Flight Lieutenant Newton maintained control and calmly turned his air craft away and flew along the shore. He saw it as his duty to keep the aircraft in the air as long as he could so as to take his crew as far away as possible from the enemy's positions. With great skill, he brought his blazing aircraft down on the water. Two members of the crew were able to extricate themselves and were seen swimming to the shore, but the gallant pilot is missing. According to other air crews who witnessed the occurrence, his escape hatch was not opened and his dinghy was not inflated. Without regard to his own safety, he had done all that man could do to prevent his crew from falling into enemy hands. Flight Lieutenant Newton's many examples of conspicuous bravery have rarely been equaled and will serve as a shining inspiration to all who follow him." (London Gazette: 19 October 1943)

Relatives
Charles Ellis Newton (father)
Minnie Newton (mother)

References
WW2 Nominal Roll - William Ellis Newton, 250748
AWM No. 22 Squadron
"During an attack on the foreshores of Salamaua, Flight Lieutenant W.E. Newton and his crew were shot down and forced to land at sea. Newton and Flight Sergeant Lyon swam ashore only to be captured by waiting Japanese troops. They were both killed on 29 March 1943. Newton received a posthumous award of the Victoria Cross for his attacks [March 16, 1943] on Japanese positions, making him one of only two awarded to RAAF Squadron members."
WW2 Nominal Roll - William Ellis Newton, 250748
London Gazette: Flight Lt William Newton, Victoria Cross citation 19 October 1943
AWM Biography Flight Lieutenant William Ellis Newton (biography, photos)
AWM Victoria Cross : Flight Lieutenant W E Newton, 22 Squadron, RAAF RELAWM32315.001
CWGC - William Ellis Newton
FindAGrave - William Ellis Newton (photos, grave photo)
FindAGrave - William Ellis Newton (AWM)
Air Power Archaeology - William Ellis Newton, VC
Bill Newton V.C. The short life of a RAAF Hero (1999) by Mark Weate
Wings of Destiny (2008) by Charles Page pages 10, 19, 150-151, 160-161, 164, 178, 181, 184, 186, 197, 200, 209, 231-235 (March 18, 1943 mission and Newton loss), 281-282 (captured Japanese documents), 284-286 (Newton loss, RAAF Searcher Team investigation), 365 (wreckage), 367 (plaque AWM), 389 (footnotes 52-53), 413 (index Newton)
Flight Lieutenant William (Bill) Ellis NEWTON VC, 1919-1943 (2016) by Rodney Pearce
A Source of Pride A History of No 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron 1936-1946 (2018) pages 149-157 (March 16, 1942 mission), 158 (Newton Victoria Cross Citation), 344-348 (Appendix 1: Evidence of the Execution of FL W. E. Newton V.C.), 349-351 (Appendix 2 - Recommendation For Award of Victoria Cross to Flt Lt W. E. Newton) 354-355 (Boston A28-3), 404 (Eastwood), 420 (Lyon), 427 (Newton) , 454 (index Eastwood), 456 (index Lyon), 457 (index Newton)

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