John William NEWELL

John William NEWELL Update Details

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NEWELL, John William

Service Number:	404543
Enlisted:	13 September 1940
Last Rank:	Flight Lieutenant
Last Unit:	RAAF Telecommunications and Communications Units
Born:	Cairns, Queensland, Australia, 8 June 1917
Home Town:	Mareeba, Tablelands, Queensland
Schooling:	Brisbane Boy's College, Toowong, Queensland
Occupation:	Clerk
Died:	(Aircraft accident, Machan's Beach, Cairns, Queensland, Australia, Off Queensland Coast, Australia, 5 March 1945, aged 27 years
Cemetery:	Cairns War Cemetery, Queensland Plot A. Row C. Grave 16.
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Mareeba War Memorial

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Flight Lieutenant, 404543
13 Sep 1940:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), Aircrew Training Units
13 Sep 1940:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 404543
5 Mar 1945:	Involvement Flight Lieutenant, RAAF Telecommunications and Communications Units

Help us honour John William Newell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of William Graham Newell and Adeline Purvis Newell, of Mareeba.

Biography contributed by David Barlow

RAAF Lockheed Hudson A16-118 (VMZI-FM) crashed into the sea about 400 yards out from Machan's Beach, just north of the mouth of the Barron River near Cairns - the pilot had been warned not to take off due to a cyclone in the area, however they left from Townsville and crashed near Cairns.

RAAF crew from Number 4 Communications Flight:

Flight Lieutenant John William Newell 404543

Flying Officer Gordon Thomson DFM 400573

Warrant Officer Berrol Samuel Frieze 409400

Flying Officer Donald James Bassett 406465

Leading Aircraftman John Dudley Moore 77157

The aircraft was carrying:

Major General George Alan Vasey VX9 - HQ 7 Australian Division

Major General Rupert Major Downes CMG VD of the Australian Army Medical Corps

Lieutenant Colonel George Anthony Bertram OBE NX324 of Advanced Land HQ "G" Branch Australian Headquarters

Corporal Edward Lewis James NX4011 of Local Administration Staff Australian Headquarters - Batman to General Vasey

Colonel Robert Heathcote Russell DSO NX168 of the Australian Army Medical Corps

Lieutenant William Riggall VX80932 of the Australian Army Service Corps - PA to General Vasey

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