Sturley Simpson

Sturley Simpson
Sturley Simpson
	Air Commodore Simpson, fifth from left, at RAF Coastal Command, Northwood, in March 1942
Born	13 June 1896
Died	28 April 1966 (aged 69)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army (1915–18); Royal Air Force (1918–47)
Years of service	1915–1947
Rank	Air Vice Marshal
Commands held	No. 18 Group (1944–47); AHQ Gibraltar (1941–44); RAF Thornaby (1938–41); No. 4 Squadron (1930–33)
Battles/wars	First World War ; Second World War
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath ; Commander of the Order of the British Empire ; Military Cross ; Mentioned in Despatches (2); Grand Cross of the Order of the White Lion (Czechoslovakia); War Cross (Czechoslovakia)

Last updated February 25, 2019

Air Vice Marshal Sturley Philip Simpson, CB, CBE, MC (13 June 1896 – 28 April 1966) was a senior Royal Air Force commander.

The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries.

Royal Air Force Aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces

The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's aerial warfare force. Formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world. Following victory over the Central Powers in 1918 the RAF emerged as, at the time, the largest air force in the world. Since its formation, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history. In particular, it played a large part in the Second World War where it fought its most famous campaign, the Battle of Britain.

RAF career

Simpson was commissioned into the Bedfordshire Regiment in 1915 during the First World War.^[1] Awarded the Military Cross in 1927,^[2] he was appointed Officer Commanding No. 4 Squadron in 1930 and Station Commander at RAF Thornaby in 1938.^[1] During the Second World War he commanded AHQ Gibraltar and then No. 18 Group.^[1] He retired in 1947.^[1]

No. 4 Squadron, sometimes written as No. IV Squadron, of the Royal Air Force operates the BAE Hawk T2 in the training role from RAF Valley, as a part of No. 4 Flying Training School.

Royal Air Force Thornaby or more simply RAF Thornaby was a former Royal Air Force Station located in the town and Borough of Thornaby-on-Tees, North Yorkshire, England. Fighter Command, Bomber Command and Coastal Command all operated from the base over its history, but its stint under Coastal Command is what the base was notable for, particularly in the air-sea rescue environment and the development of the Thornaby Bag. This was an emergency bag dropped to downed aircrew at sea and contained food, cigarettes and drink.

RAF Gibraltar is a Royal Air Force station on Gibraltar. No military aircraft are currently stationed there, but RAF, Commonwealth and aircraft of other NATO nations will periodically arrive for transient stopovers, exercises, or other temporary duty. Administered by British Forces Gibraltar, the station is a joint civil-military facility that also functions as the Rock's civilian airport – Gibraltar Airport, with the civilian airport's passenger terminal building and apron facilities located on the north side of the runway while the apron and hangar of RAF Gibraltar are located on the south side of the runway.

After the Second World War Simpson was Commandant at Northolt Aerodrome.^[1]

RAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station in South Ruislip, 2 nautical miles from Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, west London. Approximately 6 mi (10 km) north of London Heathrow Airport, the station also handles a large number of private civil flights. Northolt has one runway in operation, spanning 1,687 m × 46 m, with a grooved asphalt surface.

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References

1 2 3 4 5 Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Vice Marshal S P Simpson
↑ At Buckingham Palace Flight International, 24 February 1927

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[air-1] 1 2 3 4 5 Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Vice Marshal S P Simpson

[2] At Buckingham Palace Flight International, 24 February 1927

Sturley Simpson
Air Commodore Simpson, fifth from left, at RAF Coastal Command, Northwood, in March 1942
Born	(1896-06-13)13 June 1896
Died	28 April 1966(1966-04-28) (aged 69)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army (1915–18) Royal Air Force (1918–47)
Years of service	1915–1947
Rank	Air Vice Marshal
Commands held	No. 18 Group (1944–47) AHQ Gibraltar (1941–44) RAF Thornaby (1938–41) No. 4 Squadron (1930–33)
Battles/wars	First World War Second World War
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches (2) Grand Cross of the Order of the White Lion (Czechoslovakia) War Cross (Czechoslovakia)