No photograph on record yet.

Michael Alan Newling

Flight Lieutenant · 41867 · United Kingdom

Died: 6 July 1941
Fate: Killed in action

Biography

Michael Alan Newling was born on 28 February 1920 in Richmond, Surrey, the son of George Arthur Newling and his Australian-born wife Dorothy. He joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission in January 1939 and, after training at Hatfield and No. 11 Flying Training School at Shawbury, was posted to No. 145 Squadron at Croydon in October 1939. The squadron deployed to France, and in May 1940 Newling was shot down over Belgium, evading capture with the help of local people before rejoining his unit within days. During the fighting over the Dunkirk beaches he shared in the destruction of an Me 109 and destroyed an Me 110, and he continued to fly through the Battle of Britain, adding further claims to his record before being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, gazetted on 4 February 1941. Promoted to command ‘A’ Flight, he was flying a Spitfire — serial W3336 — on 6 July 1941 when he was shot down and killed during Circus 35, a fighter-bomber offensive sweep over the Lille area of northern France. Flight Lieutenant Newling has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 29.

Last updated 4 June 2026.

Burial / commemoration

Cemetery: Runnymede Memorial, United Kingdom

217 others in this archive died on 6 July →

Timeline

4 February 1941 Gazetted: DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross
6 July 1941 Lost in Supermarine Spitfire W3366
Other
6 July 1941 Died

Crew & operations

Flew as Other with No. 145 Squadron.

Lost on W3366 (Supermarine Spitfire) — Failed to return

Awards

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) — gazetted 4 February 1941

This officer has been continuously engaged in active operations since May. 1940, and has at all times displayed marked courage and leadership. On one occasion during an attack against a large force of enemy bombers, he was shot down into enemy territory, but with great determination succeeded in gaining his own lines. Flight Lieutenant Newling has destroyed at least three enemy aircraft and assisted in the destruction of several more. Acting Flight Lieutenant Thomas SMART.