John N Newell

[Delmenhorst]

I need a bit of help with S/Ldr John N Newell. What did he do before he became CO No. 411 Squadron ??

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Immediately prior to No.411 (RCAF) Sqn , John N. Newell had served as a supernumary on No.412 (RCAF) Sqn. He claimed a Bf 109 with this unit on 14 December, 1944 (2TAF2/354).

The 411 Sqn history has this to say on Newell:

" On December 16th (1944), S/L Lapp's second tour expired and S/L J. N. (John) Newell, an Irishman from County Down, was posted in to take the helm. In 1940, while a member of the British Air Mission in the USA, his urge to fly was so great that he joined the RCAF, flying his first tour of operations in the Middle East and India*."

See:
411 City of York Squadron. 50 Years of History 1941 - 1991.
McClonaghan,John & Derek Blatchford.
North York:411 Tactical Aviation Squadron,1992.
p.52.

* Newell served on No.258 Sqn in Burma, flying Hurricanes**. Not sure of his unit in the Middle East.

** See: Spitfires Over The Arakan/Franks. pp.54 & 155.

Another good source on Newell, is Osprey's "No.126 Wing RCAF", by Donald Nijboer (Aviation Elite Units . 35).

Col.

[Delmenhorst]

Thank you, just what I needed