LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Mervyn Charles SIMPSON
Service No: 425903
Born: Brisbane QLD, 31 March 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 21 May 1942
Unit: No. 10 (Observer) Advanced Flying (RAF), RAF Station Dumfries
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 10 (Observer) Advanced Flying Anson aircraft EG485), Scotland, 22 February 1944, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Troqueer New Burial Ground, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Claude Charles and Heather Jessie Simpson, of Darwin, Northern Territory
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 2017 hours on 22 February 1944, Anson EG485 took off from Dumfries on a night flying exercise and crashed into the summit of Cairnsmore of Fleet Mountain (2,331 feet high). Three of the crew were killed and two were injured. The aircraft was over the target for IR Bombing purposes at 2320 hours, but this was not carried out owing to poor vertical visibility. The aircraft then set a course direct to Base from West Freugh Occult at 3,000 feet and crashed into the summit of Cairnsmore of Fleet. A Court of Inquiry into the accident stated: “the aircraft after setting course from West Freugh Occult was caught in a turbulent airstream north of Wigtown, with violent up currents and downdrafts of air, making it difficult to fly an accurate compass course. The aircraft struck high ground in a severe downdraft.”
The Crew members of EG485 were:
Pilot Officer John Morgan Cooley (J/25764) (RCAF) (Air Bomber)
Flying Officer P J Lalende (J/35917) (RCAF) (Navigator) Injured
Sergeant N McLeod (1551591) (RAFVR) (Pilot) Injured
Flight Sergeant Mervyn Charles Simpson (425903) (Wireless Operator under training)
Warrant Officer Jack James Mount Ward (1060980) (RAFVR) (Staff Wireless Operator Air)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/37/333