RNZAF Biographies of Deceased Personnel: 1939 - 1945, Qu - Sl

R.A.F. 36147 Squadron Leader Joseph Cunningham SIMPSON. Widow (redacted) Mother : Mrs. P.E. Simpson of PETONE.

Joseph Simpson was born in Dunedin, Otago, on February 2nd 1917 and received his secondary education at St. Andrews College, Christchurch up to Matriculation standard. He later attended Canterbury University for six months. He played football and cricket and was also interested in swimming and boxing. His hobby was photography. He obtained his "A" Flying Licence at Wigram in 1937. At the time of making application for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force in March, 1937 he was employed as a clerk by C.L. Rhodes Motors Limited in Christchurch. He obtained his preliminary training in New Zealand with the Canterbury Aero Club and was granted a temporary rank of Pilot Officer on November 15th 1937. He embarked for England by the "Akaroa" on July 18th 1938 for service in the Royal Air Force.

On arriving in the United Kingdom on August 23rd he proceeded to Uxbridge the same day. After a short period at No. 1 Depot, Uxbridge, he was posted early the following month to No. 98 (Bomber) Squadron until in April, 1939, he was attached to the School of Air Navigation on a course. He returned for a short perioed to No. 98 Squadron until his transfer to No. 207 Squadron (location redacted), on September 14th 1939. Here he was promoted to the rank of Flying Officer on February 23rd 1940. He was further promoted to Flight Lieutenant on February 23rd, 1941 and to Squadron Leader on March 1st 1942.

Meantime on April 19th 1940, he had been posted to No. 12 Operational Training Unit, Chipping Warden for flying and signals duties. On March 17th, 1941 he proceeded to No. 23 Operational Training Unit, Pershore, thence to No. 13 Operational Training Unit, Bicester, for operational training. Early in April, 1942 he was appointed flying instructor at this Unit. He was finally posted on flying duties to No. 105 (Bomber) Squadron, Horsham St. Faith, Sussex, early in October, 1942.

Squadron Leader Simpson was a member of the crew of a bomber aircraft posted missing on operations over Germany on October 23rd 1942. He was buried in the Dutch Protestant Cemetery, Roard, Holland.

5/2/1182 A.S.2. No LogBook.

Mrs. P.E. Simpson (M) (right aligned) 125 Jackson Street, (right aligned) PETONE. (right aligned & underlined)

439643 Leading Aircraftsman James Heggie SIMPSON. Widow: Mrs. N.B.M. Simpson of Grey Lynn, AUCKLAND.

James Simpson was born in Fifeshire, Scotland on the 7th March 1904 and accompanied his parents to New Zealand at an early age. He was employed in various capacities, and when applying for enlistment in the Air Force, in November 1942, was employed by the Milner Hat Company Limited, at Auckland.

Leading Aircraftsman Simspon was enlisted at Linton on the 9th July 1943 and posted to Mangere early in September for general duties there. He died of natural causes in the Auckland Public Hospital on the 30th September 1944 and was buried in the Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland.

Find a Grave link with a photo of LAC Simpson: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47202689/james_heggie-simpson/photo Auckland Museum link with more info on LAC Simpson: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C26980?n=james+heggie+simpson&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch&ordinal=0

5/3/34729 A.S.2.

Mrs. N.B.M. Simpson (W), (right aligned) 35 Murdock Road, (right aligned) Grey Lynn, (right aligned) AUCKLAND. (right aligned)

415030 Flight Sergeant Raymond Farquhar SIMPSON Parents: Mr. and Mrs. R.E. Simpson of CHRISTCHURCH.

Raymond SIMPSON was born at Christchurch on the 16th December, 1919, and received his secondary education at the Christchurch Technical College, where he gained his Senior Free Place. He played the usual sports at school and was interested in cycling. At the time of his making application for aircrew training on the 22nd October, 1940, he was employed as an electrician by T.L. Jones, CHRISTCHURCH.

Flight Sergeant SIMPSON was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 7th September 1941 on completion of his initial training he was posted on the 19th October to No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School, Harewood, where his flying training was terminated and he was posted to Rongotai on the 19th November, and remustered to a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner and reposted on the 30th of the same month to the Initial Training Wing, Levin. On the completion of his initial training as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner he embarked on the 22nd June, 1942, for Canada. Shortly after arrival in Canada Flight Sergeant Simpson was posted on the 16th July, 1942 to No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta, and proceeded on the 6th February 1943, to No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mossbank, Saskatchewan, where on the 8th March he was awarded the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was further promoted to Flight Sergeant, on the 8th September, 1943. Meanwhile he was posted on the 19th March 1943, to No. 31 Operational Training Unit, Debert, Nova Scotia, where he trained on Hudson aircraft. He embarked on the 23rd June 1943 from No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia for the United Kingdom. Flight Sergeant Simpson arrived at No. 12 (R.N.Z.A.F.) Personnel Reception Centre, Brighton on the 2nd July, 1943 and was posted early in August, to No. 11 Radio School, Hooton Park, Cheshire, thence on the 21st September to No. 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit, Silloth, Cumberland.

-2- (centre aligned) and at this unit he trained on Oxford aircraft. He proceeded on the 16th October, to No. 5 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit, Longkesh, Antrim, Ireland. With this unit as the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner of Hudson aircraft he carried out an Air Sea Rescue search.

On the 18th November, 1943, Flight Sergeant Simpson was the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner of a Hudson aircraft which crashed into Strangford Lough. The body of Flight Sergeant Simpson had not been recovered and subsequently he was reclassified to Killed on Active Service.

He was buried in the Movills Cemetery, New Townards, Northern Ireland.

5/15/2322 A.S.2. 147 hours as Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner.

Mrs. M.D Simpson, (right aligned) 224 North Road, (right aligned) Papanui (right aligned) CHRISTCHURCH. (right aligned & underlined)

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.