Lot 148
102 Not Out!!
At Sea, On Land & In The Air | M24003
Auction: 24 September 2024 at 18:30 BST
Description
The Incredible DFC, DFM group of 5 awarded to Flight Lieutenant Wiiliam James Simpson, who as a Rear Gunner in Whitley’s, Halifax’s and Lancaster’s as a Pathfinder flew 102 Operational Sorties for Bomber Command between the 25th of June 1942 and the 24th of April 1945 Damaging at least one German Night fighter in Combat over Berlin. Comprising Distinguished Flying Cross (1944), Distinguished Flying Medal, (999298 F/Sgt. W.J. Simpson. R.A.F.)1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star with France and Germany Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal, all unnamed as issued, extremely fine (5)
DFM London Gazette 15th October 1943
999298 Flight Sergeant Willaim James Simpson Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve No 35 Squadron
DFC London Gazette 13 October 1944
William James Simpson D.F.M. (155187) R.A.F.V.R. 35 Sqn.
Extract From Air Gunner Flying Log Book
No 10 OUT Whitley
25 June 1942 No 1 Bremen
“B” Flight 78 Squadron Halifax
20 September 1942 No 3 Saarbrucken Heavy FLAK French Coast
1 October 1942 No 4 Flensburg 1 Search Light Put Out
16 November 1942 No 6 Slight FLAK Damage to aircraft
14 January 1943 No 13 Lorient Landed at Ford 1-1,000 Bomb Hung Up
27 January 1943 No 14 Dusseldorf Coned in Searchlights 1-1,000 bomb hung up
3 February 1943 No 17 Hamburg Temperature 40degrees below Zero
28 February 1943 No 24 St Nazaire Target left burning fiercely
35 Pathfinder Squadron Lancaster
13 May 1943 No 29 Pilsen Aircraft Damaged by FLAK
16 June 1943 No 33 Cologne Aircraft Shot up by FLAK
22 June 1946 No 35 Le Creusot – Lost an Engine
24 July 1943 No 36 Hamburg Aircraft Damaged by FLAK
27 July 1943 No 37 Hamburg Target Well Alight
29 July 1943 No 38 Hamburg Its Still Burning
2 August 1943 No 39 Hamburg Aircraft Damaged By FLAK Severe Thunderstorm
17 August 1943 No 43 Peenemunde (See Print by Frank Wooton)
14 September 1943 No 44 Montlucon Bombed at 5,000 feet Aircraft blown upwards by heat from fires
22 September 1943 No 45 Hanover – Good Show
18 March 1944 No 47 Frankfurt Bombs Jettisoned Port Outer on Fire
24 March 1943 No 49 Berlin Attacked by FW90 Claimed as Probable (See Combat Report)
30 March 1944 No 50 Nuremburg Damaged by Fighter landed at Ford (See Combat Report)
27 April 1944 No 54 Friedrichshafen Numerous attacks by Fighters
30 April 1944 No 55 Achers Marshalling Yards – Master Bomber
12 August 1944 No 70 Falaise Troop Concentrations
14 March 1945 No 96 Essen
14 April 1945 No 100 Berlin Master Bomber
24 April 1945 No 102 Neubrandenburg Dropping Medical Supplies.
10 May 1945 Lubeck – Ferrying POWs.
Flying Hours 306.59 Day 457.18 Night
Combat Report
24/25 March 1943 Target Berlin
Lancaster III “B” Serial ND.648 35 PFF Squadron
Captain S/l Creswell
A/Bomber S/L Allport
Navigator F/O Miller H.
W/Operator F/O Miller
M/Gunner Sgt Rhodes
R/Gunner F/O Simpson
F/ Engineer Sgt White
At 2332 hours on the night of the 24/25 March 1944 Lancaster III (ND.648) “B” of 35 Squadron was just about to turn off its bombing run of 222 degs M at 18,000 feet with an I.A of 190 knots when the M/U Gunner saw a F.W. 90 at 300 yards dead astern closing in rapidly in a steep dive. The M/U Gunner gave “Corkscrew Go” and as the Lancaster commenced to corkscrew to port the E/A opened fire at 100 yards with cannon and M.G using red and green trace and hitting the starboard tail plane of the bomber before breaking away port quarter up.
As the fighter broke away both gunners opened fire and claim hits on the underside of the E.A..
The Lancaster was now loosing height rapidly and the F.W. 90 appeared to the gunners to climb before rolling over and diving away on the port beam.
At the time of the combat there was 9/10th cloud below, illuminated by Search Lights and target fire glow.
The Rear Gunner fired 300 rounds and had one No1 stoppage in the L.H. outer gun and the L.H. inner ran away. The Mid Upper fired 150 rounds.
Mid Upper Sgt Rhodes
Rear Gunner F/O Simpson
Combat Report
Night 30/31st March 1944 Target Nuremburg
Lancaster III “B” ND.648 35 Squadron
Captain S/l Creswell
A/Bomber S/L Allport
Navigator F/O Miller H.
W/Operator F/O Miller
M/Gunner Sgt Rhodes
R/Gunner F/O Simpson
F/ Engineer Sgt White
On the night of the 30.31st March 1944 Lancaster III “B” ND.648 of 35 Squadron was returning from attacking Nuremberg. At 03.20hrs height 17,000 feet I.A.S. 169 knots 279 degs True 4908N 0316E Weather cloudy with dark patches, no moon.
The R/Gunner saw a single engine fighter, later identified as 109F approximately 700 yards on the fine port quarter up. He ordered Pilot to corkscrew port and immediately lost the fighter. Pilot resumed course.
At 03.28hrs height 15,000ft I.A.S. 175knots 302 degs true W/Op reported A/C on fishpond closing in astern about ½ mile distant. He then said he had lost him and almost immediately R. Gunner observed a burst of cannon fire from about 500 yards range dead astern. He immediately told pilot to corkscrew starboard and returned enemy fire with a short bursts of 50 rounds.
Owing to a faulty inter-com tumbler switch mounted in turret Pilot did not receive directions immediately and explosive shells struck the Lancaster Port and Starboard rudder tail plane, also ports and starboard wing.
Enemy aircraft broke off starboard down and R/Gunner fired a burst of about 100 rounds. Enemy aircraft was last seen diving down into cloud.
Mid Upper Gunner Sgt Rhodes
Rear Gunner F/O Simpson.
Sold with Observers and Air Gunners Flying Log Book, Airman’s Pay Book, Flying Clothing Card No 35 Squadron Pathfinder Reunion Association Membership Card, Original photograph of the crew of “B” for Beer in front of aircraft, original photographs of Simpson in and around Lancaster and a photograph of his turret damaged by FLAK. 1943 Dated Battle Dress Blouse with ribbons for DFC, DFM and Air Gunners Brevet as worn on Operations. Flying Officer’s Uniform with Trousers and Side Hat with Air Gunners Brevet, Medal Ribbons and his Pathfinder Badge. One large Painting of a Lancaster by Coulson, Oil on Board unglazed 83cm x 64cm, One Print of a Lancaster – “Peenemunde” by Frank Wootton August 17-18 1943 German Fighters and English Bombers Battel above the research station at Peenemunde to decide the fate of the Nazi “V” Weapons, signed by 8 airman who took part in the battle. (NB This was Simpson’s 43 Operational Sortie) Limited Edition No. 81/100 framed and glazed 96cm x 84cm.
Medals framed and glazed for display.
