Orders, Decorations and Medals

A good Second World War D.F.C. group of six awarded to Wing Commander J. H. Newberry, Royal Air Force, who, having been shot down in his Blenheim over France in May 1940, carried out a brace of operational tours in No. 114 and No. 18 Squadrons, most of them of a daylight nature and several of the low-level variety - he was appointed to the command of the latter squadron in March 1942

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1942’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (Wg. Cdr., R.A.F.), the Second World War awards mounted as worn, generally good very fine (6) £1600-1800

D.F.C. London Gazette 11 August 1942. The original recommendation states:

‘This officer has nearly completed his second operational tour, and has carried out 33 operational sorties, totalling 81 hours 45 minutes flying, of which 19 hours 30 minutes have been at night.

He was posted to the command of No. 18 (Burma) Squadron on 26 March 1942, having previously served in No. 114 (Hong Kong) Squadron. On leaving his last unit, his Squadron Commander reported on him as follows:

“He was leader of a box of six aircraft which made a very successful low-level attack on the iron works at Yjmuiden on 21 August 1941. Bombs were seen to fall between the chimneys and photographs confirmed extensive damage.

He took part in the successful low-level attack on Herdla Aerodrome on 27 December 1941.

He was leader of a formation of three aircraft which took off at 1710 hours on 12 February 1942 to attack the German battleships. These were located and bombed. Two Air Gunners of the formation confirm one possible hit, or a very near miss.

He is an outstanding leader and his work has always been a fine example to his Flight, which he commands with thoroughness and efficiency. It is considered that his record of operational service is worthy of recognition.”

Since taking command of No. 18 (Burma) Squadron, Wing Commander Newberry has put up an excellent show in forming, organising and training the Squadron, and succeeded in getting them operational in a very short time. He has been an inspiration to the Squadron by his keenness and enthusiasm and has set an excellent example. He has carried out four operational sorties by night during the past few weeks, and has shown great keenness and determination.

I strongly recommend that he should be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.’

John Harold Newberry, a regular pre-war officer who had been advanced to Flying Officer in July 1939, first went operational with No. 139 Squadron, a Blenheim unit operating out of Wyton, when he flew a high-level reconnaissance over Heligoland on 9 November 1939. But with the onset of the “Phoney War”, he did not fly another operational sortie until 14 May 1940, soon after the German invasion of the Low Countries, this time operating out of an airfield at Plivot, France. As it transpired, it was a black day for the Royal Air Force, no less than 40 Battles and 14 Blenheims being downed, official records noting that Newberry’s aircraft was among them, having been shot down west of Sedan, one of his crew dying trapped in the burning wreckage. And given that he did not fly another sortie until mid-July, it is probable that he was wounded - or on the run behind enemy lines.

Joining No. 114 (Hong Kong) Squadron, another Blenheim unit, on his return from France, he commenced a tour of daylight operations in the period July to October 1940, namely a dozen or so sorties against enemy invasion barges, in addition to some reconnaissance flights and a low-level strike on Hamstede Aerodrome. Rested over the winter months, he commenced his second tour in the summer of 1941, once more in No. 114 Squadron, and this time as a Flight Commander - a case in point being the formation he led on a low-level daylight strike against the steel works at Yjmuiden on 21 August, when bombs were seen to fall between the chimneys. Another challenging operation was the attack on Herdla Aerdrome in Norway on 27 December, flown in support of the Combined Operations raid against Vaagso and Maaloy, while in the New Year he carried out an attack on the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau.

It was about this time that Newberry was advanced to Acting Wing Commander and appointed C.O. of No. 18 Squadron, another Blenheim unit operating out of Wattisham, and he flew his first operational sortie - a strike against Leeuwarden Aerodrome - on the night of 8-9 May 1942. Three similar operations were completed over the next few weeks, and it was at the end of June, shortly before ending his tour, that he was recommended for his D.F.C.