CHARLES COREY VAN DUSEN P/O(N) J18693. From Picton, Ontario. Killed in Action Jan 14/44 age 22. #408 Goose Squadron (For Freedom). Lancaster aircraft #DS 767 lost during a night attack on Brunswick, Germany. F/O S. Dawson, P/Os J.B. Cameron, J.A. Earle, L.L. Hansen, WO H. MacLennan, and Sgt B.G. Capel (RAF) were also killed. There were two #408 Sqdn. aircraft lost in the same area on this date. Please see F/O W.H. Timmins for information regarding the other aircraft and crew. Pilot Officer Navigator Spencer is buried in the Limmer British Cemetery at Hanover, Germany.

SPENCER, F/L John Lloyd (C3026) - Commended for Valuable Services in the Air - No.1 Bombing and Gunnery School - Award effective 1 January 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 113/44 dated 21 January 1944. Born 8 July 1905 at Humberstone, Ontario (RCAF Press Release of 27 December 1943 announcing award).. Home in Port Colborne, Ontario; enlisted in Niagara Falls, 7 November 1940 as General List and commissioned that date as Flying Officer. At No.1 BGS as of 31 December 1941. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 April 1943. To No.1 Training Command Headquarters, 9 June 1944. Retired 28 July 1944. This officer as Officer Commanding a bombing flight has shown a high degree of devotion to duty. His excellent keenness and tireless energy have been a constant and splendid example to pilots and trainees alike.

SPENCER, P/O Gordon Lewis (J16834) - Mention in Despatches - Overseas - Award effective 8 June 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1729/44 dated 11 August 1944. Born 1 August 1922 (birth date on MI.9 report); home in Winnipeg or St. Vital, Manitoba (student); enlisted 5 February 1941 in Winnipeg and posted to No.1 Manning Depot. To No.1 BGS, 24 March 1941; To No.1 ITS, 16 May 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 21 June 1941 when posted to No.7 EFTS; ceased training 17 July 1941 and posted to Trenton; to No.7 AOS, 31 August 1941; graduated 5 December 1941 when posted to No.3 BGS; graduated 17 January 1941, promoted Sergeant that date and posted to No.1 ANS. To “Y” Depot, 24 February 1942. To RAF overseas, 12 March 1942. Further trained at No.22 OTU (Wellesbourne). Commissioned 9 January 1943. Promoted Flying Officer, 9 July 1943. Repatriated 9 September 1943. To “Y” Depot again, 25 November 1943. Taken on strength of RCAF Overseas Headquarters, 13 December 1943 and resumed operations. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 9 January 1945. Repatriated 14 May 1945. To No.2 Air Command, 27 May 1945, To No.1 Composite Training School, 2 January 1946. To Northwest Air Command, 15 February 1946. To Edmonton, 23 April 1947. Retired 14 May 1947. No citation in AFRO. Public Records Office Air 2/5025 has recommendation for a Military Cross (but War Office suggested no award). In same crew as S/L L.E. Logan, P/O H.J. Jennings, P/O R.C. Dennison, and Flight Sergeant E.L. Bulman. After escape he left Gibraltar on 9 August 1943, arriving in Prestwick 10 August 1943. Pilot Officer Spencer was the bomb aimer of a Halifax aircraft which attacked Stuttgart on the night of 11th March 1943. On the return flight the bomber was attacked by enemy fighters and set on fire, the crew being compelled to abandon it by parachute. Alighting in some woods, Pilot Officer Spencer proceeded to dispose of his parachute and life saving jacket and then walked to the edge of the wood where he observed an isolated farm house. While Pilot Officer Spencer was watching the farm house, an armed Frenchman appeared who, on learning Pilot Officer Spencer's identity, told him where he was (near Mondrepuis) and advised him to approach the farm house at dark. Pilot Officer Spencer hid in the woods until dark and then went to the farm house where he was given a meal and provided with refuge in a hay loft. Pilot Officer Spencer remained in hiding here until 16th March, when, after being given civilian clothing, he was taken to a nearby village from which point his subsequent journey was arranged for him. NOTE: Further to the above, Air 2/5025 has G/C J.E. Fauquier's recommendation for a non-immediate MC dated 21 October 1943 which also lists previous sorties; Spencer had flown 16 sorties (157 hours 19 minutes, although sortie list gives correct hours and 20 trips); on 27 November 1943 Air Commodore Bennett "Strongly Recommended" the award. Sorties and Fauquier recommendation as follows: ASP=Anti-Submarine Patrol 14 September 1942 - Wilhelmshaven (4.59) 16 September 1942 - Essen (5.46) 19 September 1942 - Saarbrucken (7.30) 23 September 1942 - Flensburg (6.10) 26 September 1942 - Flensburg (5.53) 2 October 1942 - Krefeld (5.40) 5 October 1942 - Aachen (6.24) 6 October 1942 - Osnabruck (5.55) 13 October 1942 - Kiel (6.08) 15 October 1942 - Cologne (6.14) 23 October 1942 - Genoa (10.08) 28 October 1942 - ASP (8.53) 2 November 1942 - ASP (9.22) 7 November 1942 - ASP (10.00) 10 November 1942 - ASP (9.25) 15 November 1942 - ASP (9.05) 20 November 1942 - ASP (8.53) 25 November 1942 - ASP (10.20) 28 November 1942 - ASP (9.40) 1 December 1942 - ASP (10.54) In an attack on Stuttgart on the night of 11th March 1943, the aircraft in which Pilot Officer Spencer was Bomb Aimer was shot down in flames by enemy night fighters. On the instructions of the captain the crew baled out. Pilot Officer Spencer was successful in eluding enemy patrols and returned to this country, despite numerous hardships which he encountered. In effecting his escape this officer displayed great courage and determination and is strongly recommended for the award of the Military Cross. FURTHER NOTE: Air 2/5025 contains long report prepared for MI.9 on his evasion up to linkup with Resistance. This is also found in WO 208/3314. It reads as follows (references to “S/P.G.” documents are other MI.9 reports): I was bomb aimer of the crew of the Halifax aircraft of which S/L Logan (S/P.G. 1174), Flight Sergeant Jennings (S/P.G. 1175), P/O Dennison (S/P.G. 1325) and Flight Sergeant Bulman (S/P.G. 1326) were members. We left Topcliffe at approximately 1930 hours on 11 March 1943 to bomb Stuttgart. On our return journey, about 2345 hours, we were attacked by a night fighter in the neighbourhood of Hirson (NW Europe 250,000, Sheet 5). Our aircraft was set on fire, and the captain ordered us to bale out. My helpers in France told me that Flight Sergeant Kennett, RCAF, or rear gunner, had been injured in the leg either during or after his landing, and had been betrayed to the Germans by the occupants of a house at which he had sought help. My helpers assured me that the traitors concerned would be suitably dealt with. I landed in a wood, uninjured, a few miles North-East of Mondrepuis, northwest of Hirson (Sheet 5). I remembered that one of the Intelligence lectures which I had received had warned me that it was dangerous to seek shelter in the woods, because of the likelihood of encountering German dumps or headquarters. I was therefore afraid to penetrate further into that in which I found myself. I cut up my parachute and hid it and my Mae West in a thicket. At the time I had no idea where I was. In a little while I noticed some dirty pieces of paper in a clearing and examined them. They bore writing in French, which I can understand, though I am not a fluent French speaker. From this fact I surmised that I must be in France. I now took off my badges which I carried in my pocket. I then crawled into the thicket under my parachute. I could see a glow in the sky from my burning aircraft and could also hear the ammunition exploding. I remained in the thicket till daybreak on 12 March 1943. I then recovered my parachute and Mae West and buried them. Before leaving England I had provided myself with a money belt containing a compass, needle and thread, anti-burn ointment, “Band-Aids”, razor, soap and toothbrush. With the aid of this compass I started walking south, and in a little while came to the edge of the wood. Here I opened my purse and removed the maps therefrom. I could see an isolated farmhouse. While watching it a man in uniform came up behind me. He was armed with a pistol. I was just about to make a dash into the wood when he came to attention and saluted me. He said, “Parachutiste ?” I said, “Yes”. He then said, “Anglais ?” and I said “Canadian”. He then shook me by the hand and explained that he was a Frenchman. With the aid of my map he indicated to e roughly where I was. He told me to wait until dark, and said that then I could with safety ask for help from the people in the farmhouse which I had been watching. He then left me. I went back into the wood and about noon opened my escape box, and ate some Horlick’s tablets and some condensed milk with the tube. I was wearing a pair of issue boots inside my flying boots. I now took off the flying boots and buried them. After dark I approached the farm. When the farmer heard that I was Canadian and saw my identity discs, he took me into his house and gave me a meal. He told me that it would not be safe for me to sleep in the house that night, but he allowed me to sleep in a hayloft. While here I was visited by another man who told me that two members of my crew were dead. He asked me how many there were in the crew, and their names, as he wished to look for possible survivors. At first I refused to give him their names, which disconcerted him somewhat. I remained in the hayloft until the night of 13 March, when my helpers gave me a complete outfit of civilian clothes and a pair of shoes. One of them said that Sergeants Lacina and McDonald of my crew had been killed and had been give a decent funeral at Mondrepuis. Here also I heard of Kennett’s capture. On the night of 15 March I was taken into the farmer’s house and allowed to sleep in a bed. The next day, 16 March, another helper took me by car to a nearby village, where I met P/O Dennison (S/P.G. 1325). From this point my subsequent journey was arranged for me.