Simpson, Ross McCulloch (Pilot Officer, b.1921 - d.1943)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 415279 Pilot Officer Ross McCulloch Simpson, 90 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia, at sea, and the United Kingdom, 1941-1943.

Wallet 1 of 3 – Consists of three diaries of Pilot Officer Simpson. The first diary contains entries dated between 17 August 1942 and 19 February 1943, and covers the period of his embarkation and training in England. In this diary, Pilot Officer Simpson writes about life on board the ship, recreational activities, rations, the weather, on-shore leave in South Africa, travelling in convoy, attending church services, hearing news of the war, arriving in England, receiving flying equipment, seeing snow for the first time, sightseeing while on leave, attending training lectures, seeing films, receiving mail from home, participating in training exercises, meeting old friends, route marches, being frustrated with inactivity, and air raids. This diary also contains one photograph and two newspaper clippings. The second diary contains entries dated between 20 February 1943 and 17 September 1943, and covers the period of Pilot Officer Simpson’s training in England and early service with 90 Squadron. In this diary, Pilot Officer Simpson writes about being posted to a new training squadron, recreational activities, having leave, flying practice, attending lectures, transferring to an Advanced Flying Unit, having an accident during a landing, seeing films, learning about aerodrome defence, receiving mail from home, being posted to an Operational Training Unit, training without oxygen, selecting his crew, bombing practice, weather conditions, meeting old friends, doing personal defence training, converting to Stirling aircraft, air raids, going on his first operational flight, being posted to 90 Squadron, and participating in further bombing operations targeting strategic locations in enemy-occupied Europe. This diary also contains photographs, newspaper clippings, and training notes. The third diary contains entries dated between 18 September and 16 November 1943, and covers the period of Pilot Officer Simpson’s service with 90 Squadron. In this diary, Pilot Officer Simpson writes about seeing films, having leave, hearing about crews that had failed to return, participating in mining and bombing operations, flying through a severe electric storm, flying through flak, doing regular air tests, sightseeing, and being unsure of the future.

Wallet 2 of 3 – Contains two folders of correspondence sent by Pilot Officer Simpson to various members of his family, in 1941 and 1942.

Wallet 2 of 3, Folder 1 of 2 consists of 30 letters and three telegrams from Pilot Officer Simpson to his family, dated between c November 1941 and 30 May 1942. They cover the period of his elementary flying training and service flying training in Western Australia. In these letters, Pilot Officer Simpson writes about completing a variety of training exercises, flying solo, the weather, daily life at the station, recreational activities, seeing films, hearing that Japan had entered the war, practicing in the link trainer, preparing defences for the station, doing aerobatics, doing exams, receiving mail from home, Christmas celebrations, having leave in Perth, being posted to Geraldton, swimming, improving his flying skills, being on guard duty, working hard at training, receiving his pilot qualification, completing advanced training, and travelling to Sydney.

Wallet 2 of 3, Folder 2 of 2 consists of 15 letters [including several associated envelopes], six telegrams, one postcard, and two envelopes from Pilot Officer Simpson to his family, dated between c late August and 30 December 1942. They cover the period of Pilot Officer Simpson’s embarkation and arrival in England. In these letters, Pilot Officer Simpson writes about life on board the ship, rations, attending communion, visiting friends in Western Australia en route, recreational activities, having leave in South Africa, arriving in England, sightseeing while on leave in Scotland and England, settling into camp, attending training lectures, seeing films, and celebrating Christmas.

Wallet 3 of 3 – Contains two folders of correspondence sent by Pilot Officer Simpson to various members of his family in 1943.

Wallet 3 of 3, Folder 1 of 2 consists of 23 letters [including several associated envelopes] and eight telegrams from Pilot Officer Simpson to his family, dated between 14 January and 10 June 1943. These letters cover the period of his refresher flying training and early operational training in England. In these letters, Pilot Officer Simpson writes about being attached to an army unit for two weeks of training, seeing films, sightseeing while on leave, receiving letters and cakes from home, route marches, attending concerts, flying practice, typical English flying conditions, being posted to his advanced flying unit, settling into his new camp, having an accident while landing, flying solo, attending lectures, doing beam approach training, doing cross country flights, meeting old friends, selecting his crewmembers, and getting lost in the air.

Wallet 3 of 3, Folder 2 of 2 consists of 13 letters, 13 airgraph letters and 11 telegrams from Pilot Officer Simpson to his family, dated between 7 July and 14 November 1943. These letters cover the period of Pilot Officer Simpson’s operational training and service with 90 Squadron in England. In these letters, Pilot Officer Simpson writes about practicing flying during the day and night, receiving mail from home, having leave in London, visiting friends, converting to Stirling aircraft, sightseeing, hearing news about the war, settling in to a new station, his first operational flight over Germany, subsequent operational flights, receiving a new aircraft, the jobs of each crewmember, weather conditions, and riding his bicycle on the station.

Pilot Officer Ross McCulloch Simpson enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on 17 August 1941. He trained as a pilot at Cunderdin and Geraldton, Western Australia, and completed his operational training in England. Pilot Officer Simpson went on to serve as a pilot with 90 Squadron, based in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, England. He flew Short Stirling aircraft in bombing and mining operations against enemy-occupied Europe. On 18 November 1943, Pilot Officer Simpson and his crew took part in a large raid over Rhine Port and Ludswighafen, Germany. Their aircraft was severely damaged, and Pilot Officer Simpson attempted to make a forced landing at Biedensand Insel, Germany. However, the aircraft exploded upon landing and all crewmembers were killed. Pilot Officer Simpson is commemorated at Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England.