Blenheim L9181 57 Sqn April 11, 1940
 

This crashed at Foucacourt-en-Santerre on this date

The crew according to BoFtaN were

F/O Archibald Cathcart Stewart Pilot #40151 baled Out OK later Air Cmdr with DFC, DFC (US)
AC1 George Lindsay # 625870 killed.
Sgt C Simpson Baled OK - Can anyone fully ID him??


Note: Stewart hit tailplane and broke leg - but probably more serious than this as in hospital/convalesce/off flying for around 18 months

Thanks

Paul

Re: Blenheim L9181 57 Sqn April 11, 1940
 

Paul,

I cannot identify Simpson by initial or service number in the 57 Squadron ORB or Appendices. Simpson as an Observer continued to fly operationally until the end of October 1940 with Sgt, Greenleaf as his pilot. On 12 November 1940 Sgt. Greenleaf along with his observer (Simpson) were posted to 13 OTU.
That is as much as I can find. Looking at the entries for 13 OTU in Bill Chorley's OTU Losses volume it seems he was able to obtain initials for all or most of the NCO aircrew, even if they were not killed. Does this mean the 13 OTU ORB was better kept than most ? If anyone has access to a copy could they please check for the above airman.

Regards,

Martin.

Re: Blenheim L9181 57 Sqn April 11, 1940
 

Martin

Thanks - I will try and trace a 13 OTU ORB.. However, I am hoping that Peter Cornwell will add to this thread to the source for the crew for L9181 in Battle of France Then and Now

Chorley Bomber Losses Vol 1 and Warners Blenheim only list Lindsay in the crew, Chorley adds that 'April 1940 Records of 57 Sqn were lost in France' and certainly there is no ORB listing for the month at National Archives

However, BoFtaN says crew were "F/O A C Stewart" and "Sgt C Simpson" who both baled out

OK so who was "Sgt C Simpson" - If you read the Appendices of 57 Sqn, on transfer to France in 1939 handwritten is the following name:

AC2 C E Simpson 613844 W/Op *

This is Clifford Edward Simpson. There is also a 'Sgt Simpson' listed undertaking various duty NCO roles at 57 Sqn. However no initials or Service Number provided. Anyone with a Service Number 613844 and a AC2 would not be a Sgt by Feb 1940 at this stage of the war. He would have probably enlisted last 1938/ early 1939. So I wonder if the "Sgt C Simpson" in BoFtaN should actually be "AC2 C E Simpson 613844" certainly the trade W/Op would fit - so I was hoping the source of the names in BoFtaN could be detailed

Simpson ended up commissioned as a P/O with a DFC at 10 Sqn in October 1942

PS AC2 C E Simpson 613844 W/Op * Actually the handwriting for the first initial could be C or L but I looked at Air 78 and found a match for 613844


PS Martin, For the Sgt, Greenleaf crew in ORB does it say "Sgt Simpson" or provide any initials

Paul

Re: Blenheim L9181 57 Sqn April 11, 1940
 

Hello Paul

I have just seen this piece and can add the following ref Archibald Cathcart Stewart - graeful if anybody can supply the individual aircraft letter.

Confirmed as a Pilot Officer on 12 July 1938 he was promoted to become a Flying Officer (War Substantive) on 12 April 1940. He crashed the previous night flying Blenheim IV L9181 DX- on a night reconnaissance, or training, flight when control was lost in a turn soon after take off. The aircraft crashed at Foucacourt-en-Santerre, north of Lihons, 20km NNW of Roye-Amy, France. Stewart baled out but broke his left leg badly, (his leg was so badly damaged that his foot was on his body, and that he had many bone breakages) and his left side when he hit the tailplane, Sgt C Simpson (Observer) baled out safely. The Air Gunner AC1 G Lindsay was killed and is buried at le Quesnel (Somme), France. He lay in a field for a long time with many broken bones before being picked up and taken to a hospital in Dieppe, up to the time of the Dunkirk evacuation, when he was then evacuated (Obviously as he was a potentially valuable pilot) from Dieppe as the Germans advanced.

He spent nearly two years in hospital, initially in Hatfield House hospital in the UK and married a VAD Nurse (Mavis Carrington) on 25 October 1941 that he had met when in Hospital and had two sons, David, who was born on 5 November 1942, and Iain on 11 February 1945. He was advised to go onto single engined aircraft because his left knee was too weak to handle twin engined aircraft especially in the event of an engine failure.

This information, and quite a bit more that I have about ACS was kindly supplied to me several years ago by his son Iain Stewart.

My interest is that he became WingCo Flying of 125 Airfield/Wing

Archibald Stewart was promoted to Wing Commander and became Wing Commander Flying of 125 Airfield/Wing between 13 March 1944 – 7 July 1944 whereby he led them in the missions leading to the invasion of France and the establishment of 125 Wing at B.11 Longues-sur-Mer being awarded a DFC in the London Gazette of 19 September 1944. “Acting Wing Commander Archibald Cathcart Stewart (40151) R.A.F.O. - This officer has displayed gallantry, determination and devotion to duty worthy of the greatest praise. He has taken part in a large number of sorties on many of which he has led large formations of aircraft with exceptional ability. He has rendered much valuable service.”

cheers

Allan

Re: Blenheim L9181 57 Sqn April 11, 1940
 

My father was Colyn Angus Simpson,he joined the R.A.F. in about 1927. He was a gunner and later a navigator,observer and flew with Sgt. Greenleaf many times. He was in Iraq and India before the war 84th and 39th Squadrons. Then 101,110 and 57th. After t hat 17,24,26 and 13 O.T.U. After that 180 Squadron Belgium. He left the R.A.F. in 1946 with the rank of Fl.Lt.
Hope this helps,
Regards,
Amanda Quick

Re: Blenheim L9181 57 Sqn April 11, 1940
 

Update via Martin Gleeson



AIR 81/1994 is for 57 Squadron Blenheim L9181, lost on 11 April 1940. The observer who baled out was 561359 Sgt. Colyn Angus Simpson