Captain Edward K Simpson with his P-51B “Flying Panther”
Captain Edward K Simpson, 363rd Fighter Squadron, East Orange, New Jersey
Eddie came from flying school to the 363rd Fighter Squadron at Tonopah, Nevada, in the spring of 1943. He was assigned to my Flight and we flew P-39s in training for combat. The 357th Fighter Group deployed overseas to England where we were assigned to the 8th Air Force and received the P-51 Mustang. Eddie flew in combat in my flight and later was made a Flight leader.
Eddie was such a likable easy going person. He was a superb pilot and a team member. Very dependable, always right there where you wanted him all the time. He was officially credited with 4 1/4 aerial kills. We were close friends.
While I was in the US for R & R during the summer of 1944, Capt. Simpson was involved in a midair collision with squadron mate Lt. Don Ferron, west of Sens, France. Lt. Ferron didn’t make it. Simpson survived the midair but was later killed by Germans while attempting to escape with the French underground.
His P-51, named “The Flying Panther,” was “purchased” by the school children from the East Orange High School, New Jersey, through the sale of war bonds. His early P51B aircraft was named “All-Away II” after the horse he owned and rode before the war. by Bud Anderson
(Click on the photo to enlarge)
Captain Edward Simpson and ground crew.
Captain Simpson's first P-51B "All Away II" 43-6393 B6-P, Named after a horse.
Captain Eddie Simpson sitting on his P-51B "Flying Panther"
Lt Eddie Simpson with his P-51B "All Away II" 43-6393, B6-P Named for a horse back home.
Eddie Simpson Grave Marker at Epinal American Cemetery, France
Epinal American Cemetery in France. It is one of fourteen permanent World War II American cemeteries erected on foreign soil by the American Battle Monuments Commission. The site was liberated on 21 September 1945 by the US 45th Infantry Division and a temporary military burial ground was established there fifteen day later. The 5,255 American military Dead buried in the Epinal, lost their lives in the fighting across central France.
Through the efforts of Bill Overstreet and Jeffrey Clemens, a Proclamation was declared at the New Jersey State Capitol recognizing the accomplishments of Eddie Simpson and an American Flag was flown over the Capitol in his honor. We will show the flag and the Proclamation at a future time. Thanks for all those who have helped getting Eddie the recognition he deserves.
Group photo of 363rd FS pilots (L-R) Bill Overstreet, Henry Kayser, Bud Anderson, Edward Simpson, Ernie DeNigris (Intel Officer)
Edward Simpson in Uniform
Lt Eddie Simpson receives award from Col. Graham
Captain Edward K. Simpson, pilot of the Flying Panther, flew an aircraft that was purchased with war bond drive donations collected by the high school students of East Orange, New Jersey.
The “Dead” Yank Hero of the Orleans Forest – Captain Eddie Simpson – Stars and Stripes 25 Nov 1959 By Paul Kackley
Captain Eddie Simpson honored by Hampton, New Jersey – 14 August 2021
