The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. R B Sim
Robert Black Sim of Stewarton, Ayrshire, was born in Stewarton, Ayrshire on 9th June 1917, the son of William and Annie Sim.
He joined the RAFVR about 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot.
Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training and arrived at 6 OTU, Sutton Bridge on 26th May 1940. After converting to Hurricanes, Sim was posted to 111 Squadron at Croydon on 6th July.
On 11th August he failed to return from a combat off Margate. His Hurricane, P3942, is presumed to have crashed into the Channel.
Sim is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 19.
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His younger brother LAC Alan Black Sim enlisted in the Fleet Air Arm and was killed on his first deployment on 28th May 1944, aged 20.
Barracuda LS520 of 831 squadron FAA took off from RNAS Macrahanish en route to RNAS Hatston on Orkney from where it would join the rest of 831 Squadron aboard HMS Victorious.
In very poor weather the Barracuda struck high ground at Meall Tarsuinn near Crieff, killing the crew.
Also lost were:
Sub Lieutenant (A) JW Friend
Sub Lieutenant (A) RN Robbins
Sub Lieutenant (A) DA Titlow
AB Sim is buried in Stewarton Cemetery.
(Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner).
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