Operation: Escort

Date: 28th June 1940 (Friday)

Unit: No. 151 Squadron. 11 Group. (motto: Foy pour devoir - 'Fidelity unto duty')

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: P3322

Code: DZ-?

Base: RAF North Weald, Essex

Location: English Channel off Bolougne

Pilot: F/O. Kenneth Edward Newton 40785 RAF Age 24. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

After landing at RAF Manston to refuel they took off at 17:30 hrs with two others to escort Blenheims on photographic reconnaissance operations. 56 Squadron also assisted.

The pilot was seen to bale out after combat with 3 x Bf109s from 3./JG20. his location was given as 7 miles off Bolougne. The destroyer, HMS Codrington was ordered to attempt a rescue but no trace could be found.

The Luftwaffe pilot credited with his loss is described as being Lt. Karl-Heinz Scnell (shown left) his third victory of the war. He was to go on and claim an incredible 72 when the war ended. He survived and passed away on the 13th March 2013. (Information courtesy Kracker Archives on this website)

The 1,540 ton, HMS Codrington (shown below) was then transferred to Dover Command to assist in Operation Dynamo, the Dunkirk evacuation. On 28 May she embarked 866 troops from the beaches, and took on survivors from the coaster SS Abukir with Grenade and Anthony and took them to Dover.

She made a second trip on 29 May, embarking 766 troops, and a third on 30 May, embarking 799 troops. A fourth trip followed on 31 May, when she embarked 909 troops, landing 440 at Dover. 1 June saw her taking 746 troops back to Dover, and her final run on 2 June brought 878 troops back to the UK. Codrington was one of the few destroyers that had escaped major damage and was able to continue supporting operations after the evacuation had been completed.

She was lost whilst in port at Dover on the 27th July 1940 - only three men were injured after an air attack. (information courtesy Wikipedia)

Burial details:

F/O. Kenneth Edward Newton. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 6. Born on the 24th September 1915 at Hampstead, London, England but immigrated to New Zealand at an early age. The son of Captain Robert Algernon Newton, (R.N. retired) and Mary Newton (née Bimler), of Okoroire, Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 539 flying hours logged. Worked as farm manager on his fathers farm in Okoroire prior to service.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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