RNZAF Biographies of Deceased Personnel: 1939 - 1945, Na - Py

On the 17th December, 1942 Flight Sergeant Newall was pilot of a Hudson aircraft which took off to patrol an area adjacent to enemy occupied territory, and failed to return. After the cessation of hostilities it was reported that an aircraft had crashed off Suavanu Point, Rekata Bay, Santa, Ysobel Island. It was found to be the aircraft in which F/Sgt. Newall had been flying.

When the missing personnel investigation unit visited Rabaul, it was reported by a missionary that two members of the crew had survived the crash and were brought to Rabaul, where one of them died a few hours later. The other survivor is believed to have been Sgt. Newlands, but no trace has sinnce been found of him. F/Sgt. Newall's death has since been presumed to have occured on December 17th. Other members of the crew were Sgt. R.T. Andrew, Sgt. H.W.M. Downard, Sgt. A.F. Mahoney and Sgt. D.G. Newlands.

5/2/2624 573 hours.

Mrs. P.K. Newall, C/o Mr. H. Gully, Tahunanui, NELSON.

414888: Warrant Officer Hedley Beaumont NEWELL, D.F.C. Parents: Mr. and Mrs. T.R. NEWELL, of Melbourne, Australia.

Hedley Newell was born at Templeton, Canterbury, on the 3rd April, 1920. He attended the Templeton Primary School and obtained his Proficiency Certificate. His sports included football, cricket, swimming and cycling. After leaving school he was employed by numerous farms and businesses in and around Christchurch and at the time of making application for service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in December, 1940, was employed as a locomotive fireman on the New Zealand Railways.

Warrant Officer Newell was enlisted on the 31st August, 1941, at the Initial Training Wing, Levin. On successfully completing his initial training there he embarked for Canada on the 20th October to continue his training under the Empire Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada, Warrant Officer Newell was posted on the 2nd April, 1942, to No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta, where he gained experience in wireless operating under flying conditions. On the 28th May, he proceed to No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School, Dafoe, Saskatchewan, for training in air gunnery. While here on the 22nd June, 1942, he was awarded his Flying Badge as a wireless operator air gunner and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 15th May, 1943, and to Warrant Officer on the 15th May, 1944.

Meanwhile on completing the course at No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School in July, 1942, he proceeded to Vancouver to embark for New Zealand. After repatriation he was posted, on the 1st September, 1942, to No. 2 General Reconnaissance Squadron, Nelson. With this Squadron he carried out advanced training and also a number of operational flights when the aircraft of which he was a member of the crew took part in providing air protection for shipping approaching or departing for New Zealand. On the 22nd November, 1942, he was posted to No. 3 General Reconnaissance Squadron, Whenuapai, and proceed by air with the Squadron to Santos New Hebrides during the same month. While here he carried out a

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large number of reconnaissance patrols and a bombing raid on Cholseul Island. He returned to New Zealand by air on the 28th February, 1943.

Warrant Officer Newell was posted on the 1st March, 1943, to No. 1 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron then stationed at Whenuapai. With this Squadron he carried out reconnaissance patrols and also a number of anti-submarine patrols. In October, 1943, the Squadron proceeded by air to the forward area in the Pacific and was stationed at Guadalcanal. From here in addition to reconnaissance patrols, bombing raids were carried out on Bougainville, Kolohapise and Choiseul Bay, and mines were laid in Buka Passage. In February, 1944, the Squadron returned to New Zealand. On the 23rd May Warrant Officer Newall was posted to No. 1 Operational Training Unit, Ohakea. He was posted to No. 9 Squadron which formed at Ohakea during November and proceeded to Whenuapai with the Squadron during the same month. His next move was with No. 9 Squadron to Nausori, Fiji, early in January, 1945, and when the Squadron moved to Emirau Island he proceeded there with it. From here he carried out 30 operational sorties, the targets including enemy installations on New Ireland (14), Panapai, New Britain (3), Libba Bridge, Vunakanau (3), Tibera (3), Rabaul (4) and Duke of York Islands. Towards the end of March, 1945, Warrant Officer Newell returned to New Zealand for a rest period, until in July, 1945, he was posted to No. 4 Squadron, Whenuapai, and proceed with this Squadron to Los Negros in the Pacific. Later in September Warrant Officer Newell returned to New Zealand and was posted to No. 2 Reconnaissance Squadron, Ohakea.

On the 28th February, 1946, Warrant Officer Newell was a member of the crew of a Ventura aircraft engaged in carrying out a meteorological flight and which failed to return to its base and all members of the crew including Warrant Officer Newell were posted as missing. In due course, the death of Warrant Officer Newell were officially presumed to have occurred on the 28th February, 1946. On the 23rd March, 1946, an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross was made to Warrant Officer Newell in recognition of meritorious

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and gallant services rendered during the War.

5/15/2548 A.S.2

1195 hours as aircrew

Mrs. T. R. Newell, (M), Dawson Road, Templeton, CANTERBURY.

40726, Sergeant Charles Hugh Le Blanc NEWBERRY. Mother: Mrs. K.V. Newberry of Woolston, Christchurch.

Charles Newberry was born at Christchurch on the 28th April, 1918, and received his secondary education at the Canterbury College School of Art, gaining a Senior Free Place. He was employed as an upholsterer by Drayton-Jones Limited of Christchurch at the time of applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 21st September, 1939.

Sergeant Newberry was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 12th March, 1940. After completing the course there, he was posted on the 8th April to the Training Squadron at Ohakea, where, on the 24th May, he was awarded the Air Gunner Bage and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He afterwards embarked early in June for the United Kingdom.

Sergeant Newberry arrived at No. 1 Depot, Uxbridge, on the 10th July and proceeded on the 20th of the same month to No. 15 Operational Training Unit, Harwell, Berkshire. With this unit, he crewed up and completed his training as Air Gunner of Wellington bomber aircraft before being posted on the 20th September to No. 9 Squadron, Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk.

Sergeant Newberry was a member of the crew of a Wellington bomber aircraft engaged during the night of the 2nd/3rd October, 1940, in an attack on a target at Berlin. The aircraft was reported on the return journey to be running out of petrol and coming down into the sea off Lowestoft. It failed to return to base and all the crew, including Sergeant Newberry, were classified as missing. In due course, his death was presumed to have occurred at sea on the 3rd October, 1940.

5/2/2966, A.S.2 No log book.

Mrs K.V. Newberry (M), 36 Marshall Street, Woolston, CHRISTCHURCH.