Simpson, John Alexander
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | John Alexander |
Surname | Simpson |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 15-04-1943 |
Next of Kin |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington X |
Serial Number | HE550 |
Markings | PT-G |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Mesnil St. Laurent Churchyard |
Grave Reference | |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 242 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/17113 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 420 (Snowy Owl) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Outside former St. Georges Hotel, Teesside Airport, County Durham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Tablet on Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 420 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial, inscribed Metal Plaque and Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial, in English & French, to those Canadians who served at RAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 420 (RCAF) Sqn |
Location | Former Control Tower, Tholthorpe Airfield, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 420 Sqn |
Miscellaneous Information
On the strength of 424 Sqn, according to CWGC records |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1825/28 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1825/27 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 14-04-1943 |
End Date | 15-04-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Middleton St. George |
Day/Night Raid | Night (72% moon) |
Operation | Stuttgart. 462 aircraft, 23 losses (5.0%). PFF claimed accurate marking but the bombing was concentrated to the north east. This is an example of a phenomenon called 'creepback' where successive crews would release their bombs earlier and earlier on an effort to turn for home as quickly as possible. Fortunately the bombed suburbs included many industrial installations so some useful damage was caused. An air raid shelter packed with French and Russian PoWs was hit, increasing the death toll to 619, a new record. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a Ju 88 on return leg from 12000'. Crashed SE of St. Quentin, France |