Ken Simpson

We were sad to hear that Ken Simpson of 80 Entry (D Sqn) passed away in Nov 2024.

Having completed a tour as a fighter ground attack pilot with No. 1 (F) Squadron at West Raynham, Ken undertook a Reconnaissance Course at Chivenor before being posted to Aden in mid-1965, where he began a tour with 1417 Flight at Khormaksar.

While flying an up-country sortie on 9 May, 1966, a Griffin Vulture struck Ken’s Hunter FR.10 in the starboard intake. “The huge bird entered the intake and although much of it smashed its way out through the upper skin of the wing, sufficient went into the engine causing it to surge. As the rpm stabilised in mid-range I left the throttle alone and, by dropping my external tanks, managed to nurse the aircraft up to 10,000 ft on a heading back to Khormaksar where I was able to carry out an emergency landing.”

With the disbandment of the Flight in September 1967, Ken transferred to 8 Sqn for a few months and, at the completion of his Middle East tour in late 1967, he went to Davis Monthan AFB near Tucson, Arizona, to do a three-month conversion course onto the F-4 Phantom. On return from the USA, Ken became an instructor at RAF Coningsby, converting RAF pilots onto the Phantom.