SIMPSON, Thomas Drayton
| Service Number: | 408076 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 October 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 617 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 23 November 1917 |
| Home Town: | Sandy Bay, Hobart, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | The Hutchins School Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation: | Law Clerk |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 2 April 1998, aged 80 years |
| Cemetery: |
Cornelian Bay Cemetery and Crematorium, Tasmania |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 10 Oct 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 408076, Aircrew Training Units | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Oct 1940: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 408076, Aircrew Training Units, Empire Air Training Scheme | |
| 7 Dec 1940: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman | |
| 12 Dec 1940: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 408076, No. 1 Wireless Air Gunnery School Ballarat, Empire Air Training Scheme, No. 8 WAGS Course | |
| 29 May 1941: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant | |
| 29 Nov 1941: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant | |
| 17 May 1943: | Involvement Royal Air Force , Flying Officer, 408076, No. 617 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45, Dams Raid Participant | |
| 20 May 1943: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, Commissioned after Dams Raid. | |
| 20 Nov 1943: | Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer | |
| 28 Mar 1945: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 408076, RAAF Recruit Centres |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Steve Larkins
Thomas 'Tammy' Simpson DFC, DFM (1917-1998) Australian 'Dambuster'
'Tammy' Simpson was a Flight Sergeant and rear gunner of Flight Lieutenant 'Micky Martin's Lancaster on the famous Dams Raid, 'Operation Chastise' in May 1943. Of his view of their successful attack, he said;
"The store (bomb) was dropped correctly and we didn't have time to to do much other than blaze away as Mick passed over the top with a foot or two to spare. I felt pretty mad about the shole business. Actually speaking we were all sitting ducks if the Jerry gunners had been on the ball or steadier with their aim. As we passed over the dam face there was an awful thud . We had been hit somewhere. We turned hard to port after we crossed over the dame wall. Toby (Foxlee) and I belted at the flack towers on the dam. There wasn't much daylight between the belly of our aircraft and the top of the dam wall as we swooped across dead centre between the two towers on the top of the dam, quite ornamental ones." (1)
Sources:
(1) 'Australia's Dambusters' 2021 BURGESS Colin Simon & Schuster (Australia) Pty Ltd ISBN13: 9781760859244
Click images to start slideshow.