NEWMAN, George Henry
| Service Number: | 427929 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 October 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 460 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Perth, Western Australia , 13 May 1919 |
| Home Town: | Wattle Grove, Kalamunda, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Kalamunda State School (1925-33), Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Dairy Hand |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Germany, 19 October 1944, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany Coll. Grave Plot 8. Row C. Grave 26-30. Local Roll of Honour- Kalamunda W.A., |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Darling Range Road District Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Flight Sergeant, 427929 | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Oct 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 427929, No. 5 Initial Training School Pearce | |
| 11 Oct 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 427929 | |
| 5 Dec 1942: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, No. 1 Wireless Air Gunnery School Ballarat | |
| 19 Aug 1943: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant | |
| 13 Oct 1943: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 427929, Emb. Sydney for U.K. | |
| 19 Feb 1944: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant | |
| 9 May 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 427929, Operational Training Units (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 | |
| 29 Sep 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 427929, No. 460 Squadron (RAAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 |
19 October 1944
George Newman served in 460 Squadron, part of Bomber Command based at Binbrook, England.
On the night of 19 October 1944 he was in a plane which took part in a raid on Stuttgart. The aircraft was a four-engined Lancaster bomber from 460 Squadron. 460 Squadron was predominantly made up of Australian RAAF personnel. The plane's squadron lettering was AR-Z and serial number PB152. The other crew members were:
Pilot Flight Officer Peter FONTAINE (Australian)
Engineer Sergeant Arthur CHISMAN (English)
Navigator Warrant Officer Reginald George Bain (Australian)
Bomb Aimer Flight Officer Charles MIDDLETON (Australian)
Wireless Operator Flight Sergeant George NEWMAN (Australian)
Mid-upper Gunner Warrant Officer Reginald KRUTLI (Australian)
Tail Gunner Flight Sergeant Edward KENEALY (Australian)
The plane was shot down by a German Junkers 88 night fighter near Tubingen, Germany. The only survivor was the Navigator, Reginald George BAIN. His account of the night and his subsequent time as a POW can be found under his name on this VWMA website. In 2003, Reg Bain fulfilled a life-long wish to return to Germany to pay his respects to his fellow crew members. He visited the site of their crash near Tubingen and their graves in Durnbach War Cemetery.
Submitted 24 April 2020 by Susan Weisser
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