LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant William Graham SIMPKINS
Service No: 420502
Born: Sydney NSW, 30 September 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 8 November 1941
Unit: No. 2 Operational Training Unit
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 2 Operational Training Unit Wirraway aircraft A20-69), near Mildura VIC, 6 January 1943, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Mildura Public Cemetery, Victoria
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Frederick Gladstone Simpkins and Isabel Wilson Simpkins, of Mosman, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 113, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 6 January 1943, Wirraway A20-69 with Sergeant Simpkins in the front seat and Flying Officer Curtis in the back seat, was carrying out instrument flying in the cloud flying area about 10 miles west of Mildura. The aircraft failed to return from the flight and later that day the aircraft was found crashed with both pilots killed.
The crew members of A20-69 were:
Flying Officer Victor Farley Curtis (400039) (Staff Pilot)
Sergeant William Graham Simpkins (420502) (Trainee Dual Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 16637/7; A9845, 103