George Goodman Simpson

George Goodman Simpson was born in Saint Kilda, Victoria, Australia, on the outskirts of Melbourne{{cite web|url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/australi/simpson2.php|title=George Simpson|work=The Aerodrome|accessdate=6 December 2011}} on 14 September 1896,Above the Trenches, p. 339. to Minna Alice Lazarus and George Green Simpson. By 1901, the Simpson family, which included elder brother Rolfe, was living at Swaynes Hall, Saint Mary's Church National School, in Saffron Walden, England.{{cite web|url=http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=172877|title=8 Naval Squadron and George Goodman Simpson|work=Great War Forum|accessdate=15 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053156/http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=172877|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}} In 1916, George Goodman Simpson lived in Regent's Park. In later life Simpson would claim to be native to London, England.Sopwith Triplane Aces, p. 26. He joined the Artists Rifles as a private soldier before World War I.

Simpson joined the Royal Naval Air Service on 8 August 1915. After pilot's training, he was awarded his pilot's certificate at Chingford on 29 January 1916. He was then assigned to No. 1 Wing, where he flew Sopwith Pups and Nieuports.

Simpson then transferred to 8 Naval Squadron. During this posting, he scored his first aerial victory with a Nieuport, as well as becoming A Flight's commander. When the squadron upgraded to Sopwith Triplanes, he would score five more victories with his personal plane, number N5460. He would continue to fly a Triplane after a posting to 9 Naval Squadron, tallying two more wins while flying number N5462. His final victory was scored while 9 Naval was staged at Leffrinckoucke, France.Sopwith Triplane Aces, p. 56.

He was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for his exploits:

:Flt. Lieut. George Goodman Simpson.

:For gallantry and able leadership in aerial fighting, notably on the following occasions:—

:On 3 May 1917 he drove down a hostile aeroplane out of control.

:On 11 May 1917, while on offensive patrol with five other machines, he attacked six hostile aircraft. One of these he brought down out of control, and a few minutes later he attacked another at close range and brought it down in flames.

:On 23 May 1917 he led a formation of five machines to attack at least twice that number of hostile aeroplanes. Both formations became split up, and a general fight ensued. Five times during the combat he drove off hostile aeroplanes from another of our machines, and one of those which he attacked was seen to go down in a spin.[http://www.edinburgh-gazette.co.uk/issues/13107/pages/1238/page.pdf The Edinburgh Gazette, 26 June 1917, p. 1238] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527163652/http://www.edinburgh-gazette.co.uk/issues/13107/pages/1238/page.pdf |date=27 May 2012 }}, Retrieved 15 December 2011.

After leaving 9 Naval for England, Simpson flew Home Defence sorties from RAF Cranwell during the latter part of 1917, though without results. He then became a test pilot at RAF Martlesham Heath during 1918.Sopwith Triplane Aces, p. 27.

Simpson married Constance Vera Baker at Christ Church on Albany Street in London on 21 July 1918.

{{see also|Aerial victory standards of World War I}}

On 31 January 1919, Simpson was confirmed in rank as a captain.[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31157/pages/1537 The London Gazette, 31 January 1919, p. 1537], Retrieved 6 December 2011. He then disappears into the mists of history until the Second World War.

On 10 July 1939 Captain Goodman was appointed as a Flight Lieutenant in Class CC of the Royal Air Force reserves.[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34687/pages/6354 The London Gazette, 19 September 1939, p. 6354], Retrieved 6 December 2011.[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34713/pages/7043 The London Gazette, 20 October 1939, pp. 7043–7044], Retrieved 6 December 2011. On 1 September 1939, as the Second World War heated up, he was still ranked as Flight Lieutenant but had been moved up to the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34713/pages/7041 The London Gazette, 20 October 1939, pp. 7041–7042], Retrieved 15 December 2011. One December 1941 saw him promoted to temporary Squadron Leader.[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35383/supplements/7114 The London Gazette, 16 December 1941, pp. 7114, 7116–7117], Retrieved 6 December 2011. Nothing more is known of his service in this war.

Several years after the war, on 10 February 1954, he gave up his commission but retained the honorary rank of Squadron Leader.[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/40260/supplements/4883 Supplement to the London Gazette, 24 August 1954, pp. 4883–4885], Retrieved 6 December 2011.

George Goodman Simpson died in Horsham in April 1990.

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Franks|first=Norman|title=Sopwith Triplane Aces of World War 1|volume=62|series=Aircraft of the Aces|publisher=Osprey Publishing|location=Oxford|year=2004|isbn=9781841767284}}
• {{cite book|last1=Shores|first1=Christopher F.|last2=Franks|first2=Norman L. R.|last3=Guest|first3=Russell|title=Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920|publisher=Grub Street|location=London|year=1990|isbn=978-0-948817-19-9}}

{{wwi-air}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, George Goodman}}

Category:1896 births

Category:1990 deaths

Category:Australian World War I flying aces

Category:Military personnel from Melbourne

Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)

Category:British Army personnel of World War I

Category:Artists' Rifles soldiers

Category:Royal Naval Air Service personnel of World War I

Category:Royal Naval Air Service aviators

Category:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II

Category:Royal Air Force squadron leaders