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David Robert Newman

Local History

Page updated - 17 March 2009

Roll of Honour - Gt. Cornard

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Flight Sergeant David Robert Newman

 Runnymede

1600222  No.254 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

 

David Newman was born around 1923 and was the son of David Robert and Dorothy May Newman.  The family lived in Radiator Road, Great Cornard.

 

David served in Coastal Command with No. 254 Squadron whose motto was ‘Fljuga vakta ok ljosta’ (Norse) – meaning ‘To fly, to watch and to strike’.  In 1945 the squadron was based at RAF North Coates on the Lincolnshire coast equipped with Bristol Beaufighters as part of the North Coates Strike Wing.  The Beaufighter was used by Coastal Command as both a long range escort fighter and as a torpedo bomber attacking enemy shipping. From North Coates they covered as far north as the Norwegian coast down to the Bay of Biscay.

 

David was reported ‘missing from operations over the North Sea’ in the Suffolk and Essex Free Press on 12th April 1945.

 

David died aged 22 on Sunday 1st April 1945.  He has no known grave and is remembered on the Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede near Windsor.

 

A Cross of Remembrance was laid near to his name in August 2007.

 

Photo - Shirley Smith

©Shirley Smith - Sudbury & District Royal British Legion - November 2008