Flying Officer Dudley Gerald Newman
Date of Birth Circa 1920
Place of Birth
Air Force Branch RAF (VR)
Rank Flying Officer
Service Number 67063
Awards
Date of Death 26/08/1942
Location
Squadron 229 Sqn
Aircraft type V.S Spitfire Vc (T) EP190
Location of Memorial The Malta Memorial, Floriana, Malta
Next of kin Son of Gerald and Evelyn Newman, of Chippenham, Wiltshire.
Flg Off Dudley Gerald Newman was educated at the New College School, Oxford. He was chorister at the College School and later at the Magdelaine College School. After finishing his education he entered the music profession with an Oxford firm.
On the outbreak of the Second World War he enlisted in the RAF (VR), on completion of his training he was promoted to Plt Off, later promoted to Flg Off just a month before his death. As a member of 131 Sqn RAF Flg Off Newman was amongst a number of reinforcements for the beleaguered island of Malta that flew from the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle on the 18th May 1942. He was later transferred to 229 Sqn and it was with this Sqn that he scrambled to intercept a large number of enemy aircraft on the 26th August 1942. Ten miles north-east of the island of Camino the Sqn sighted a pair of Messerschimitt's at 27,000ft and then six more unidentified fighters at sea level. One section dived to investigate the unidentified aircraft during which Sgt Cliff Cornish crashed into the sea, either shot down or having failed to pull out of the dive. Flg Off Newman flying V. S Spitfire EP190 reported that he was circling an aircraft in the sea; this was the last contact with him. Both pilots failed to return. It is thought that Flg Off Newman had fallen victim to the guns of Ltn Schiess of Stab/JG53, although another pilot of Stab/JG53 also claimed a Spitfire during the same sortie, this was not confirmed.
Place of Birth
Air Force Branch RAF (VR)
Rank Flying Officer
Service Number 67063
Awards
Date of Death 26/08/1942
Location
Squadron 229 Sqn
Aircraft type V.S Spitfire Vc (T) EP190
Location of Memorial The Malta Memorial, Floriana, Malta
Next of kin Son of Gerald and Evelyn Newman, of Chippenham, Wiltshire.
Flg Off Dudley Gerald Newman was educated at the New College School, Oxford. He was chorister at the College School and later at the Magdelaine College School. After finishing his education he entered the music profession with an Oxford firm.
On the outbreak of the Second World War he enlisted in the RAF (VR), on completion of his training he was promoted to Plt Off, later promoted to Flg Off just a month before his death. As a member of 131 Sqn RAF Flg Off Newman was amongst a number of reinforcements for the beleaguered island of Malta that flew from the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle on the 18th May 1942. He was later transferred to 229 Sqn and it was with this Sqn that he scrambled to intercept a large number of enemy aircraft on the 26th August 1942. Ten miles north-east of the island of Camino the Sqn sighted a pair of Messerschimitt's at 27,000ft and then six more unidentified fighters at sea level. One section dived to investigate the unidentified aircraft during which Sgt Cliff Cornish crashed into the sea, either shot down or having failed to pull out of the dive. Flg Off Newman flying V. S Spitfire EP190 reported that he was circling an aircraft in the sea; this was the last contact with him. Both pilots failed to return. It is thought that Flg Off Newman had fallen victim to the guns of Ltn Schiess of Stab/JG53, although another pilot of Stab/JG53 also claimed a Spitfire during the same sortie, this was not confirmed.
Source: CWGC, Wiltshire Gazette 03/09/1942, Spitfires Over Malta B. Cull & Frederick Galea p 262, Photograph - British war Graves