The San Diego Air and Space Museum holds in its archives four photograph albums (AL4-A, -B, -C and AL38) belonging to and created by Frederick William Newman. These albums contain photographs showing the career of Newman in the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1917 to 1947.  They highlight his time fighting in Iraq in the 1920s, as well as his service in the Second World War. 

Newman and mates and a Bristol F2B at Worthy Down in 1921.

Newman joined the Royal Flying Corps on 22 June 1917 as an Air Mechanic and with further training at Electrical and Wireless School (E&WS) RAF Flowerdown in 1919 he went on to support the E&WS equipment at nearby RAF Worthy Down. In the early 1920s he became a Wireless Mechanic and Repairer reaching the rank of Corporal. His work maintaining equipment on airfield’s brought him into contact with the pilots of these aeroplanes.

Newman in the cockplit of a Vickers Virginia preparing for a wireless test flight.

N.C.O. Pilots course, Netheravon 1922.

In 1922, Newman attended 1 Flying Training School at Netheravon where on 15 April 1923 he qualified as a pilot and was awarded his “wings” and promoted to Sergeant. Following further training in gunnery and bombing at RAF Eastchurch, he was ready for a role in a Squadron. In November, Newman boarded HMT (His Majesty’s Transport) Glengorm Castle for Egypt.

A De Havilland 9A E9918, in a photo Newman captioned "How not to land..."

In December 1923, he arrived at RAF Helwan, near Cairo, the base of 47 Squadron flying De Haviland D.H.9A bombers. Whilst with 47 Squadron, Newman’s duties included flying the Cairo-Baghdad Air Mail Route and Meteorological Flights for the Airship Route.

30 squadron's Kirkurk camp.

Newman’s next posting was to 30 Squadron, based a Kirkuk in Iraq, from 1925 through 1927. Fighting between the local tribes people and the Iraqi government forces, who were supported by the RAF. At one time Newman was part of a detached flight sent to the Penjwin Area where, for his outstanding service, he was Mentioned in Dispatches (MiD).

Armstong Whitworth Atlas flying in the clouds above RAF Cranwell.

After Squadron service Newman returned to Britain to train as a flying instructor at the Central Flying School RAF Upavon. As an Instructor, he was posted to 3 Flying School at RAF Spitalgate for two years.  In 1931 it was back to the E&WS, now as a pilot rather than a mechanic, which had in the meanwhile moved to RAF Cranwell, to provide flying experience to student wireless operators.

Newman and his wife (left) at RAF Boscombe Down, 1937.

There are few clues as to where Newman served between 1933 and 1939. A picture of his wife was taken at RAF Boscombe Down in 1937. Another photograph shows him with the Sergeant’s Mess at Fort Dunlop, near Birmingham. There is also a photograph of Newman as a Warrant Officer. On 5 May 1939, a photograph shows his wife and child at the family home in Beck Row, near RAF Mildenhall.

R.A.F. Station, Henlow - No. 13 Maintenance Unity - April 25th, 1944.

On the outbreak of the Second World War, more experienced leaders were required in the expanding RAF, Newman was Commissioned Flying Officer (F.O.) 1 February 1939 in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch. Later he transferred to the Technical Branch and was posted to 135 Maintenance Unit (M.U.) at Gebel Hamzi, Egypt, followed by 107 M.U. Kasfareet in the Canal Zone. On 1 July 1943 he was promoted to Squadron Leader (temporary) back dated to 1 June 1942.  On returning to Britain, Newman was posted to 13 M.U., RAF Henlow and from there was sent on a course at RAF Staff College Cranwell in May 1945. Newman was chosen to accompany Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Charles Portal at the opening of the ‘British Aircraft Exhibition in London on 21 June 1945.

British Aircraft Exhibition in London on 21 June 1945, Royal Air Force Marshal Sir Charles Portal at left, Newman on far right.

After 30 years of service, Frederick William Newman retired from the RAF on 22 October 1947.  These images provide not only an intimate record of Newman's life, but an extensive record of the confilct in Iraq, which to this point has not been well documented.

The entire collection of images can be found via this link. (Note, the images in this collection were originally misidentified as belonging to "Edwin" Newman...it is Frederick.   Additionally, the images recorded as AL4-A may not have belonged to Frederick Newman, but were only donated as the same time as the others.)