Bill Newton was born in St Kilda, Melbourne, on 8 June 1919 and attended the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School.
Newton enlisted in the RAAF in February 1940 and, having been commissioned and qualifying as a pilot, he became a flight instructor before being posted to Port Moresby, New Guinea, in May 1942.
By March 1943, Newton had flown 52 operational sorties in New Guinea in Douglas Boston light bombers with No. 22 Squadron RAAF. He was known for flying straight at his targets rather than weaving to avoid fire. Fellow airmen dubbed him “the firebug”, claiming that wherever Newton flew he left a fire burning behind him.
On 16 March 1943 Newton led an attack against Japanese positions on the Salamaua Isthmus. His aircraft was badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire, but he brought it home. Two days later he went back to the same area, and his aircraft was hit by 40 mm anti-aircraft fire and was set on fire after bombing the target. Newton kept his aircraft flying long enough to carry his crew away from the enemy, then ditched it about 1,000 yards offshore. Two of the crew escaped. Newton was captured with Flight Sergeant John Lyon, and both men were subsequently executed.
Newton was awarded the Victoria Cross for his many examples of conspicuous bravery, highlighted by his display of great courage and an iron determination to inflict the utmost damage on the enemy.
After the war, Newton’s body was located and buried in the Lae War Cemetery.
Flight Lieutenant Newton’s Victoria Cross is held by the Australian War Memorial, Campbell, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Story courtesy of Jim Campbell
