Arthur Ernest Newland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Ernest Newland
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| Born | 1882 Enfield Lock, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 1964 (aged 81–82) Edmonton, Essex, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
British Army Royal Air Force |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | No. 20 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Medal & Bar |
Sergeant Arthur Ernest Newland was a brave British soldier and airman. He fought during World War I. He was an "observer ace" in the Royal Air Force. This means he was a skilled observer in an airplane. He helped shoot down many enemy aircraft. He was officially credited with 22 victories. He earned the Distinguished Flying Medal and a Bar to it.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Arthur Ernest Newland was born around 1882. His mother, Jane Newland, was from Clerkenwell. His father, William, worked as a labourer. He was from Westminster.
Fighting in the Air
Newland was part of No. 20 Squadron RAF. He served as an observer and gunner. He flew in the back seat of a Bristol F.2 Fighter plane. This plane was known for its fighting ability.
He worked with several skilled pilots. These included Paul Iaccaci, Dennis Latimer, and George E. Randall. His main pilot was August Iaccaci. Together, they achieved ten victories.
His First Victories
Newland scored his first victory on May 18, 1918. By the end of that month, he was already an "ace." An ace is someone who has shot down five or more enemy planes. He had six wins by then. He added three more victories in June.
Becoming a Triple Ace
There was a short break in his victories. Then, on August 14, he scored two more wins. On August 21, he achieved a "hat trick" by shooting down three planes. Another win on August 22 made him a "triple ace." This means he had 15 or more victories.
He then shot down two planes on September 6. He did the same on September 15 and September 27. With one more win on September 16, his total reached 22 victories. He destroyed 19 enemy aircraft. Two of these were shared with other airmen. He also forced three enemy planes to land out of control. Most of his victories were against enemy fighter planes.
Awards for Bravery
Arthur Newland received special medals for his courage.
Distinguished Flying Medal
He was given the Distinguished Flying Medal. The award said he was an excellent shot. It also said he did very well as an observer. He earned the trust of the pilots he flew with. He personally helped shoot down five enemy planes.
Bar to the Distinguished Flying Medal
Later, he received a Bar to his Distinguished Flying Medal. This showed he continued to be brave and skilled. The award noted his great example to others. It mentioned that in August alone, he crashed six enemy machines.
