"DESERVED V.C."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 118, 21 May 1942, Page 6

"DESERVED V.C."

TARANAKI SERGEANT-PILOT

WOUND CAUSED FATAL CRASH

NEW PLYMOUTH, this day.

In the first big air battle fought near Singapore on January 12, 1942, a flight of 14 Japanese fighters suddenly appeared above Tebrau, at the southernmost tip of the Malayan Peninsula. Watchers on the ground then saw a single Brewster Buffalo aircraft dive on the enemy planes, fire its way into the midst of the formation and break away to gain height for another downward dive. The pilot of the Buffalo was Sergeant R. J. Newman, Tikorangi, who lost his life in the air battle after an heroic fight against overwhelming numbers. Letters telling of his unflinching courage and explaining how he fought on with the utmost bravery until he met his death have been received by Sergeant Newman's parents, Mr. and Sirs. W. L. Newman, Tikorangi. One of the letters said: "That boy put up the best fight I've ever seen. He deserved a V.C. if anyone did." Other letters told how Sergeant Newman kept attacking the enemy singlehanded, firing until he was right m amongst them and then continuing to fire bursts at individual aircraft he had singled out. The Japanese planes then closed in on him, firing from behind and to the side. Time and again the New Zealand pilot broke away, gained height and flew straight 1 into the enemy again. Sergeant Newman continued his aggressive tactics in the unequal struggle until he was finally shot down wounded in the thigh, with his machine out of control. When his aircraft crashed the pilot was thrown heavily against the instrument panel. He was lifted from the cockpit by members of a New Zealand aerodrome construction unit, who had witnessed his last great fight, but he did not regain consciousness and died an hour after his admission to hospital.

In praise of Sergeant Newman, a fellow pilot wrote, TThe fine fight was typical of him. It just wasn't in him to turn tail, even though he knew he hadn't a chance of coming through alive."

Reference was also made to Sergeant Newman's heroic battle by Leading Aircraftman A. F. Moncur, M.P., when he gave a broadcast speech on his return to New Zealand from Malaya, where he served with the New Zealand aerodrome construction unit.