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NZ411228 : Flying Officer Robert Wrey SIMPSON.
Parents : Mr. & Mrs. G.S. SIMPSON of FEILDING.

Robert Simpson was born at Waitotara on the 7th July, 1912, and received his secondary education at the Wanganui Technical College. The sports in which he was actively interested included football, tennis, badminton, cricket and rifle shooting. After leaving school he was employed in the grocery trade and at the time of applying for enlistment in aircrew on the 28th March, 1940, he was employed as a grocery manager by A.W. Renouf & Co. Ltd., of Haraekakaho.

Flying Officer Simpson was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 15th February, 1941 and on the satisfactory completion of the course he embarked on the 29th April, 1941 for Canada to continue his training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Flying Officer Simpson arrived in Canada on the 14th May 1941 and proceeded on the 29th of the same month to No. 6 Air Observers School, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and thence on the 3rd August to No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School, Dafoe, Saskatchewan, where on the 6th September he was awarded the Air Observer Badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 13th October 1941 and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 1st September, 1942. Meanwhile on the 15th September, 1941 he was posted to No. 1 Air Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba and on the 13th December 1941 he embarked for the United Kingdom.

Flying Officer Simpson arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 26th December 1941 and on the 24th February 1942 proceeded to No. 9 (O) Advanced Flying Unit, Penhros and Llandwrog in Wales and thence on the 18th April to No. 5 Operational Training Unit, first at Chivenor, Devonshire and later at Turnberry, Ayrshire, where he crewed up and trained on Anson and Beaufort bomber aircraft. Late in July, 1942 he was posted to the Overseas Air Despatch and Reception Unit, Lyneham, Wiltshire and from this Unit he proceeded by Beaufort aircraft to the Middle East.