Maurice Newnham

Captain (later Group Captain) Maurice Ashdown Newnham was a World War flying ace credited with 18 aerial victories.

He originally joined the Royal Flying Corps as a 17-year-old courier. He was assigned to No. 4 Squadron in France. A year and a half later, he underwent pilot's training.

He was then forwarded to a Sopwith Camel unit, No. 65 Squadron. On 25 April 1918, he was shot down by Josef Mai. On 10 May 1918, he scored his first victory by destroying an Albatros D.V. He became an ace on 29 June. He flew 102 offensive patrols in six months, and steadily accumulated victories through 9 November 1918. His final total included victories over 14 enemy fighters and a reconnaissance two-seater. He was also a balloon buster, having shot down three enemy observation balloons.

Between the wars, Newnham was involved with the Triumph motorcycle and automobile company. As early as 1933, he stocked them in his automotive sales center. He was appointed to head it in 1936 as managing director and chief executive. He sold off the motorcycle division and turned the company from producing sports cars to building nondescript family sedans. This policy put the company in serious financial straits, as the sedan market was overcrowded. The Bombing of Coventry destroyed the motorcycle plant and damaged the automobile factory seriously enough to shut down production.

Newnham returned to service during World War II, rejoining in 1939. After a spell of administrative duties, he established and ran the British Parachute Training School, a feat he recorded in his book, Prelude to Glory. He took that post as a Squadron Leader on 9 July 1941. Despite being in his 40s, he personally parachuted numerous times. He insisted on testing all improved equipment before it went into general use in the school.

After World War II ended, Newnham returned to running his auto sales center.

Honors and awards
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Lieut. Maurice Ashdown Newnham. (FRANCE)

This officer has taken part in several night-bombing raids and in 102 offensive patrols, many of which he has led with ability and success. On the night of 23–24 September Lt. Newnham carried out a very successful long distance raid on an enemy aerodrome. Owing to heavy rain and a strong west wind he had difficulty in reaching his objective. Undeterred by this, he succeeded, and effectively bombed the aerodrome, obtaining two direct hits on a large Zeppelin shed. He then attacked other objectives, descending to ground level to do so. He returned to our lines after a 2½ hours flight.