ALLAN, W/C Spence Anderson (C2338) - Member, Order of the British Empire - Executive Assistant to Air Member for Personnel. Award effective 26 May 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1380/44 dated 30 June 1944. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, 20 February 1906 (birth date in Who’s Who in Canada, 1966); educated there and University of Toronto; home there. Served in Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Non-Permanent Active Militia, 1930-1940; enlisted in RCAF in Hamilton, 1 July 1940 in Administration Branch. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 May 1941. At AFHQ as of 27 October 1941. Promoted Squadron Leader, 1 July 1942. Promoted Wing Commander, 1 July 1943. To No.1 Training Command, 15 July 1944. Promoted Group Captain, 1 December 1944. To No.1 Air Command, 15 January 1945. To No.4 Release Centre, 11 March 1945. Retired 20 March 1945. Medal presented February 1945. Postwar he was President and Managing Director of Reid Press Limited, Hamilton. Photo PL-8956 shows him at desk, 29 May 1942 when he was a Flight Lieutenant. Died in Hamilton, 25 September 2006. This officer has contributed outstanding meritorious service throughout his career. His work in connection with the organization of all Bombing and Gunner Schools was the of the highest order and performed under circumstances demanding an exceptional degree of initiative and capacity for work. As Executive Assistant to the Air Member for Personnel, he has continued to display exceptional ability and untiring effort in the organization and maintenance of the administration of this Division. He served as Assistant Secretary for the Air Training Conference two years ago and, due to his fine work at that time, was again chosen as Secretary for the recent conference held with representatives of the United Kingdom. His initiative, ability and devotion to duty have been outstanding and an excellent example to all those with whom he has come in contact.

SPENCER, F/L Nelson Hughes (J10732) - Mention in Despatches - No.418 Squadron - Award effective 14 January 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 874/44 dated 21 April 1944. Born 11 July 1916. Home in Vancouver; enlisted there 9 May 1940. To No.1 ITS, 27 May 1940; graduated and promoted LAC, 19 July 1940 when posted to No.8 EFTS; may have graduated 15 September 1940 but not posted to No.4 SFTS until 12 October 1940; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 20 December 1940 when posted to Central Flying School; to No.4 BGS, 6 March 1941; to No.6 AOS, 13 April 1941; to No.1 ANS, 17 April 1941; to “Y” Depot, 24 November 1941; to RAF overseas, 8 December 1941. Commissioned 15 March 1942. Promoted Flying Officer, 1 October 1942. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 May 1943. Repatriated 3 September 1943. To No.36 OTU, 25 October 1943; to No.8 OTU, 30 June 1944. To No.8 Release Centre, 28 March 1945; retired 19 May 1945. Died in New Westminster, 8 February 1994.

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.

SPENCE, FS Charles Edmond (R54754, later J27366) - Mention in Despatches - No.5 Squadron (Canada) - Awarded 1 January 1943 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 55/43 dated 15 January 1943. Born Krinklin, Ireland, 9 March 1917. Home in Verdun, Quebec. Enlisted in Montreal, 29 May 1940. To No.1 ITS, 1 June 1940; graduated and promoted LAC, 24 June 1940 when posted to No.4 EFTS; to No.2 SFTS, 31 August 1940. Ceased training and posted to No.1 Manning Depot, 21 November 1940. To No.1 WS, 3 February 1941; graduated 20 July 1941 and posted next day to No.1 BGS; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 18 August 1941. To Halifax, 19 August 1941. To No.31 OTU, 31 August 1941. To Eastern Air Command, 13 December 1941. To No.5 (BR) Squadron, 22 December 1941. Promoted Flight Sergeant, 18 February 1942. Promoted WO2, 1 November 1942.No citation. Commissioned 19 May 1943. Promoted Flying Officer, 19 November 1943. To Eastern Air Command Headquarters, 30 September 1944. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 October 1944. To No.2 Release Centre, 26 August 1945. Retired 30 August 1945. Living in Ottawa in 1950. Died in Ottawa, August 2009. WOPAG in unit; no citation. // SPENCE, WO2 (later P/O) Charles Edmond (R54574/J27366) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.5 Squadron (Canada) - Award effective 5 October 1943 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 2258/43 dated 5 November 1943. Award presented in Montreal, 21 November 1947. See DFC entry for S/L B.H. Moffit for details of attack on U-630, sunk 4 May 1943. // Since being Mentioned in Despatches in the New Years Honours List 1943, this NCO has continued his valuable and conscientious work as a Wireless Air Gunner. He was the First Wireless Air Gunner aboard an aircraft when enemy submarine sightings were made, one of which was attacked and destroyed. The proper functioning and operation of the equipment for which he was responsible contributed greatly to the discovering of the submarine within the vicinity of the attack.