Flight Lieutenant William Ellis Newton VC OM 1937
Last updated: 2008
Flight Lieutenant William Newton served with distinction in the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War and was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery. Newton enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1940. After qualifying as a pilot he became a flight instructor.
He was then posted to New Guinea with the No. 22 Squadron in May 1942. Flying a Boston dive bomber he completed 52 operational sorties. In March 1943 Newton's plane was hit during an attack on Japanese positions in Salamaua and crashed into the sea. He managed to reach shore, but there was captured and later executed.
Newton was awarded the Victoria Cross for his fearless approach to operational flying and his attempt to save his crew by piloting their burning aircraft as far from enemy positions as possible. He was the only Australian in a RAAF squadron to receive the Victoria Cross.
Melbourne Grammar School marked its sesquicentenary in 2008. As part of the celebrations, a Talents Committed Exhibition was staged. This exhibition recognised 150 Old Melburnians who have made a difference to the City of Melbourne, the State of Victoria and the wider community in Australia and overseas.
The above profile was included in the Talents Committed Exhibition in 2008.