Dear Golden Eagles,

I am saddened to report to you that Captain Simpson Evans, Jr., USN (Ret.) made his last take-off on Monday, December 27, 2010 in Fort Smith, AR. Julia, his loving wife of 53 years, daughter Kandace, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren, survive him. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, December 30 at 1 PM at Fentress Chapel, 1805 North A Street, Fort Smith, AR, followed by burial at Fort Smith National Cemetery, 522 Garland Avenue, at 2 PM.

Captain Evans joined the Navy in August 1942, and was designated a naval aviator in October 1943. After a short tour as an Operational Flight Instructor, he was assigned to VF-1 aboard USS Bennington (CV-20) in October ’44. He participated in combat operations, and then was the wingman of the flight leader in the Victory air parade over the USS Missouri (BB-63) during the formal surrender of the Japanese.

Following WWII, Simpson instructed foreign students at NAS Corpus Christi, TX and served with VF-12A in USS Valley Forge (CV-45) before becoming a member of the first Navy Test Pilot Training Class in ’48. After a tour in Tactical Test at Patuxent River, MD, Simpson was assigned as an exchange pilot with the USAF during the Korean War. Flying the F-86 he shot down two MIG-15’s. Captain Evans was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldiers Medal, and 12 Air Medals for his dynamic airmanship and heroism during WWII and Korea.

Captain Evans stayed in cockpit assignments from ’51-63, with the exception of time spent at Line School at Monterey, CA in ’53-’55. He was a Type Leader at VX-3 flying the F2H Banshee, made a Mediterranean cruise with VF-82 aboard USS Intrepid (CVA-11), was Flight Director at McDonnell Aircraft as Bureau of Weapons Representative St. Louis, and commanded the Replacement Air Group Instrument Training Squadron, VA-127. He spent a tour with Fleet Work Study Group Pacific from ’64-’68, and was instrumental in the development of the 3M (Material Maintenance Management) system for ships and aircraft.

Simpson spent the last six years of his 32-year career in command, first as Commanding Officer of Naval Air Facility El Centro, CA, and then as CO of the Naval Reserve Center, Tulsa, OK. Captain Simpson retired in July 1974.

Captain Evans enjoyed a well-earned reputation as an outstanding pilot and tactician. He was a proud Golden Eagle and a valued shipmate. We have lost another of our WWII generation of warriors, and one who also served with distinction in the Korean War. He will be missed.

Sadly,

Bill Gureck, Pilot