BEHEADED BY JAPS.
AN AUSTRALIAN V.C. DIVE-BOMBING EXPERT (11.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Sept. 4. The Japanese at Salamaua (New Guinea) beheaded Flight Lieutenant William Newton, V.C., with a Samurai sword Flight Lieutenant Newton’s execution, now revealed for the first time, occurred in March, 1943. 11 days after his plane crashed. liis remains were Identified after the Allies had captured Salamaua and were buried in the air force cemetery there. In October, 1943, the Government announced that the Allied troops had found evidence that an R.A.A.F. officer had been beheaded but did not identify the victim as Newton.
The Japanese held Newton prisoner for 11 days during which the authorities believe he was inhumanly tortured and finally beheaded. Flight Lieutenant Newton was awarded the V.C. before the authorities knew the Japanese had beheaded him. His remarkable dive-bombing exploits earned him the decoration. The award was announced posthumously only because of the routine delays in making such announcements.
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Bibliographic details
Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21809, 4 September 1945, Page 3
Word Count
155BEHEADED BY JAPS. Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21809, 4 September 1945, Page 3
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