A fine Second War ‘Dieppe Raid’ D.F.C. group of six awarded to Squadron Leader R. B. Newton, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who, in command of 411 (Canadian) Squadron, led his pilots on four separate offensive sweeps over the French coast on 19 August 1942, on one occasion participating in a 30-minute dogfight with 120 Fw. 190s and sharing in the destruction of one of them: one of his clashes with the enemy that day is preserved on gun camera footage held at the Imperial War Museum in London Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1942'; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted court-style for wear, nearly extremely fine (6) £2,600-£3,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- D.F.C. London Gazette 29 September 1942. The original recommendation states: ‘Squadron Leader Newton has taken part in over 60 offensive operations over enemy territory and the Channel. He has destroyed one enemy aircraft, shared in another, probably destroyed two and damaged one. He has commanded No. 411 Squadron since 2 August 1942; he led the Squadron in the recent operations over Dieppe, during which he shared in the destruction of an enemy aircraft. This recommendation for a decoration is based not on his 'score' but on his zeal, courage and leadership in offensive operations, and particularly his leadership of his squadron during the Dieppe operations.' Robert Buckley Newton enlisted in the Royal Air Force in September 1939 and commenced pilot training at Prestwick in June 1940. Commissioned Pilot Officer, he was posted to No. 57 O.T.U. at Hawarden, where he converted to Spitfires, prior to joining 72 Squadron at Acklington in February 1941. Having participated in numerous operational patrols off the coast - and in convoy patrols - he moved south with the Squadron to Gravesend in the first week of July 1941. A few days later, with Biggin Hill as their forward base, the pilots of 72 Squadron commenced a flurry of cross-Channel sorties to Northern France; three of them were shot down in the unit’s first encounter with the enemy on 10 July 1941. Newton's flying log book bears grim testament to many such encounters - and resultant losses - in the period leading up to September. On 17 July he attempted to establish the fate of a fellow pilot - L. B. F. 'Fordy' Fordham - whose Spitfire had been hit by flak over Calais. He lost him in the cloud but later discovered he had drowned off Dunkirk. A few days later - on 23 July - he saw another comrade go down in flames and himself engaged a 109. The very next day his own Spitfire was hit during a 10-minute dogfight with a 109 and he had to make a deck-level retreat with his adversary pursuing him halfway across the Channel. Sweeps to such places as St. Omer and Lille continued apace in August, Newton getting in hits on a 109 on 12 August: 'Observed pieces fly off his tail. Broke off at 2,000 feet, 109 still going straight down' (the recipient’s Flying Log Book refers). Then on 29 August 72 Squadron encountered swathes of 109s: 'More opposition than ever before. Attacked 3. No results. Terrific party … Sky full of Huns' (ibid). Regularly assessed as an 'above average' pilot, Newton was posted as a Flight Commander to 403 (Canadian) Squadron at Debden, from where he continued to fly a hectic agenda of cross-Channel sweeps. On the 27 September 1941, he and his fellow pilots were jumped by 'many 109s' just after crossing the enemy coast. Newton engaged three of them and 'got 1 in flames' (ibid). In the following month, the Squadron took up convoy patrol duties, Newton getting in some hits on a Dornier 215 off Orfordness on 25 November. At the end of the month Newton rejoined 72 Squadron as a Flight Commander at Gravesend, before being appointed C.O. of another Spitfire unit, 411 (Canadian) Squadron, at Hornchurch in early February 1942, with the acting rank of Squadron Leader. Newton was quickly back in action, flying a 'Roadstead' to the Dunkirk-Ostend sector on 13 February 1942; amidst heavy flak, he damaged an E-Boat. One of his Sergeant Pilots was killed. Then on 28 February, after a collision with Flight Sergeant Gridley, he somehow coaxed his damaged Spitfire back to Manston for a belly-landing: 'Both O.K. but I was scared! Poor old 'B' written off' (ibid). And on 15 April he scored a spectacular victory over Desvres: ‘Dived at 580 m.p.h. (True) from 15,000 feet to 2,000 feet after FW. 190 (Flamer). Pulled out, + 9G, approx. 30 feet above sea' (ibid). From May to July, in addition to ongoing cross-Channel sweeps, 411 Squadron carried out numerous patrols off Skegness, Newton damaging a Ju. 88 on 21 May. By now a veteran of over 60 cross-Channel operations, Newton led his squadron on no fewer than four trips to Dieppe during the famous raid, Operation Jubilee, on 19 August. The Dieppe Raid
On the first of those sorties, as part of No. 12 Group, Newton’s flying log book refers to a 'terrific battle' of 30 minutes’ duration with 120 Fw. 190s, one of which fell to his guns. The Greatest Air Battle, by Norman Franks, gives further context:
‘Wing Commander Pat Jameson's 12 Group Wing from West Malling, comprising three Spitfire squadrons, were flying low towards Dieppe. Jameson was leading 485 New Zealand Squadron, commanded by Squadron Leader R. J. C. 'Bob' Grant, D.F.M., 411 Squadron as the middle squadron commanded by Squadron Leader R. B. Newton, plus 610 Squadron led by Squadron Leader J. E. 'Johnny' Johnson, D.F.C. as top cover. Up above all was Squadron Leader 'Raz' Berry's 81 Squadron from Fairlop. They would all meet Focke Wulfs. The Wing raced above the wavetops at zero feet then, nearing the hostile smoke covered shore, began to climb. Bob Grant had taken his New Zealanders up to between 3,000 and 4,000 feet when they arrived over the ships at 8.15 a.m. Above them they could see many enemy fighters. Robert Newton too saw many enemy fighters above, noticing that the Wing was greatly outnumbered by the 190s … Ranging from ground level to 20,000 feet and having a diameter of 25 miles, the air battle drifted and eddied over the coast and inland. The Wing had lost its cohesion but 36 Spitfires, or what was left of them, still carried out their task by fighting in pairs and fours and so achieved some concentration in the target area
Immediately below 610's battle, Newton's Canadians too were hotly engaged by the enemy fighters. Pilot Officer Reid's machine was hit by cannon and machine-gun fire but he - Red 4 - returned safely. Red 3, Pilot Officer P. R. Eakins was seen to be hit by cannon fire which blew off his Spitfire's radiator. He failed to return. Pilot Officer D. Linton - Red 2 - was last seen going after a German fighter and he too failed to get back to West Malling. Red Leader, Robert Newton, got in a telling burst at a 190 which was claimed as destroyed. Flight Lieutenant R. W. McNair also saw strikes on a 190 which he claimed as probably destroyed. Blue 4, Sergeant S. A. Mills, was hit and wounded in the head by shrapnel but got his machine home.’ The initial raid over, Newton led his squadron back to West Malling to refuel and re-arm, an exercise he would repeat on three further occasions before the day was out. On the last of those - as cover for the withdrawal from the beaches - he encountered and damaged a Dornier 215. Newton’s own Log Book entries for his four sorties state: (i) ‘Dieppe. Cover at 4,000’ for ships in harbour. 485, 411, 610. Terrific Battle for 30 mins. with 120 FW 190s. Got 1 Destroyed.’ (ii) ‘Escorted 2 Bostons at 0 Feet into Dieppe Harbour for smok...
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