In 1938 Simpson was provisionally accepted for an RAF short service commission and sailed to the UK. He was awarded his flying badge on 6 May 1939.
On 6 October Simpson joined No 229 Squadron flying Blenheims. In March 1940 these were replaced by Hurricanes. On 16 May ‘A’ Flight, with Simpson as one of its members, went to France. On the 18th he destroyed a Bf 110 and on the 21st he shot down two He 111s.
The Squadron then took part in operations over Dunkirk, based at Biggin Hill and using Manston as its forward base. On 29 May Simpson damaged a Bf 109 and on the 31st he probably destroyed a Do 17. On the 15 September, with 229 now based at Northolt, Simpson shared in destroying a He 111. On 15 October he damaged a Bf 109.
On 26 October Hurricanes of 229 and No 302 Squadron chased Bf 109s across the Channel. They lost them and started to return.
Simpson, leading Blue Section of 229, saw a He 59 flying low off the coast in the vicinity of Boulogne. He went down, accompanied by Sergeant Ommaney and Pilot Officer McHardy. After two bursts from Ommaney, the floatplane landed on the sea, with three of its four crew killed. The Hurricanes were then attacked from the rear by Bf 109s as well as ground fire.
Ommaney returned safely, but McHardy and Simpson were seen to be heavily engaged by Bf 109s. They did not return. McHardy became a PoW but Simpson was not heard of again. He is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 6.
