George Housten Simpson

Military
media-40366.jpeg UPL 40366 SSGT George H. Simpson (15th AF, 97th BG, 342nd BS)

Family Archives

Object Number - UPL 40366 - SSGT George H. Simpson (15th AF, 97th BG, 342nd BS)

SSGT George H. Simpson served in the Army Air Force during WWII.



Mr. Simpson was from South Charleston, WV, where he grew up on a dairy farm. While he was in 5th grade, he met Kathryn Erskine, who would remain his sweetheart throughout his life. He played football at South Charleston High School, where a local newspaper reporter noted that his play at halfback had the "feathery touch of a concrete pile driver." Upon graduation, George and Kathryn were married in 1941 and had their first child, a daughter named Georgianna, in 1942. Mr. Simpson enlisted in 1943. After training, he served as a tail gunner in the 342nd BS of the 97th BG, 15th AF. Mr. Simpson completed 59 missions in 35 sorties during his time stationed at Amendola, Italy from late 1944 through 1945.



After being honorably discharged in May of 1945, Mr. Simpson returned to his home in West Virginia. He went on to work for over 42 years as a Chemical Operator at Union Carbide in South Charleston, WV. Upon retirement, Mr. Simpson spent a lot of his time travelling the United States and Canada with his wife in their RV. Together, they visited all but 2 states in the contiguous United States. Mr. Simpson and his wife Kathryn had been married married for 72 years at the time of her passing in 2013. Mr. Simpson passed away in November of 2016.

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Units served with

Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Miss Fits
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 341st Bomb Squadron 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Harriet's Chariot
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

South Charleston, WV 25 April 1921

Enlisted

Huntington, WV 13 November 1943

Died

St. Albans, WV 2 November 2016

Revisions

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Sources

Enlistment Record of George H. Simpson

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Family Archives

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Family Archives

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Family archives, military records.

George Housten Simpson: Gallery (11 items)