Capt. Richard S. Simpson
38th FS - 06 December 1943 - 27 July 1944
| Assigned Aircraft |
Known to have flown P-38J 42-67494 |
| Mission History |
Flew 73 combat missions |
| Mission List |
Not Known |
| Notes | Born on 7th September 1917, near Corning, Iowa. Known as 'Dick' Entered service from St. Helena, California ASN - 0-749085 1936 - Enlisted in the Coast Artillery and served at Hickam, Hawaii for three years. 1942 - Applied for Aviation Cadet Training 1943 - Graduated from Williams Field with class 43F 18 September 1943 - Finished transitional training to P-38's at Muroc, California 06 December 1943 - Joined the 38th Fighter Squadron February 1944 - Awarded the Air Medal April 1944 - Awarded the 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal 22 April 1944 - Promoted from 2nd Lieutenant to 1st Lieutenant May 1944 - Awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal May 1944 - Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross 29 May 1944 - Appointed Flight Leader 30 June 1944 - Promoted from 1st Lieutenant to Captain 27 July 1944 - Transferred to the 496th Fighter Training Group Passed away on 20th June 1995, in St. Helena, California. |
| Memories | |
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Photograph (F. Birtciel) Nb. Opens new window. Close to return to this page |
On 26 December 1943, Richard Simpson's P-38J 42-67494 took off, but developed a fuel leak, which poured fuel into the supercharger and caused an engine fire. The P-38 landed off the runway and Simpson was unhurt. |