Lou Spence
Lou Spence | |
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Wing Commander | |
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Commands held |
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Battles/wars | World War II
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Awards |
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Louis Thomas Spence,
Born in
Early life
Born on 4 April 1917 in Bundaberg, Queensland, Louis Thomas Spence was the fifth child of Robert John Spence, a farmer, and Louise Margaretta Marie, née Koob. His ancestry was Irish on his father's side and German on his mother's. Spence attended Longreach State School from 1924 to 1931 and Thornburgh College in Charters Towers from 1932 to 1934. Successful academically, he also excelled at sports including cricket, rugby league, and tennis.[1] His light-blond hair earned him the nickname "Silver".[1][2] He was employed as a clerk at the Queensland headquarters of the Bank of New South Wales in Brisbane, and studied at the Bankers' Institute of Australasia.[1]
World War II
Spence joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) on 6 March 1940. After flying training at Point Cook, Victoria, and Archerfield, Queensland, he was commissioned as a pilot officer on 26 August. On 28 October, he was allotted to No. 25 Squadron in Perth, Western Australia.[1][3] The squadron operated CAC Wirraways.[4] Spence was promoted to flying officer on 26 February 1941.[3] He married Vernon Swain, a nurse, in St George's Cathedral, Perth, on 24 May; the couple had two children.[1] Swain's father had been a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps in World War I.[5][6] In August, Spence was posted to the Middle East.[1] He underwent operational flying training in Khartoum, Sudan, before joining No. 3 Squadron in September.[1][3] Based in Egypt, No. 3 Squadron operated P-40 Tomahawk fighters against German and Italian forces.[7][8]
On 1 January 1942, having converted to
Returning to Australia in September 1942, Spence was posted as an instructor to
Spence was posted out of No. 452 Squadron at the end of November 1944.[26] Early the following year he joined No. 8 Operational Training Unit, which was based at Parkes, New South Wales, and operated Wirraways, Boomerangs and Spitfires, among other types.[1][27] He was discharged from the Air Force on 19 November 1945.[1]
Between wars
Rather than resume his banking career after the war, Spence joined the
Promoted to
Korean War
Spence and his family were about to go on holiday before returning to Australia when, on 25 June 1950, No. 77 Squadron was placed on standby for action in the Korean War, which had just broken out.[36][37] The unit was specifically requested by General Douglas MacArthur, commander of United Nations (UN) forces.[38] No. 77 Squadron flew its initial escort and patrol sorties from Iwakuni on 2 July, becoming the first non-American UN unit to go into action.[39][40] That day, Spence took eight Mustangs on an escort mission for United States Air Force (USAF) B-26 Invaders attacking a bridge south of Seoul.[41] Families still living at Iwakuni, pending their repatriation from what had become an operational theatre, could watch the Mustangs depart for missions over Korea.[42]
A
No. 77 Squadron did not encounter enemy aircraft in the opening phase of the war, but often faced intense ground fire.
On 9 September, in cloudy conditions, Spence led three other Mustangs in a low-level napalm attack on
Legacy
According to his brother, quoted in the Brisbane Courier-Mail, Spence wrote in his last letter home:[59]
The world rapidly seems to be heading towards another war. We are now in that state, where, if we don't rearm, we won't have any chance. Yet by rearming war becomes almost certain. Let's hope fervently that by rearming we will prevent war – although our little war up here is genuine enough. Anyway, I feel that fighting this little war here has so much meaning that I am giving it all the effort I have.
Flight Lieutenant (later
Spence was recommended for the Distinguished Service Order for his "outstanding fearless leadership and distinction" in Korea, but the award was changed to a bar to his DFC.[60] The decoration was promulgated in The London Gazette on 17 April 1951 and presented to his wife on 22 February 1952.[60][61] His awards of the US Legion of Merit and Air Medal were gazetted on 22 June 1951; the latter was presented privately to Vernon Spence.[47][62]
Advancing UN troops located Spence's body near his crashed Mustang in October 1950.[63] He is buried at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, South Korea. His name appears on Panel 2 of the Commemorative Area of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.[64]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Scully, P.J. "Spence, Louis Thomas (1917–1950)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: Australian National University. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- ^ "Fate stepped in for Spence". The Sunday Mail. Brisbane. 17 September 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 22 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b c d e f "Wing Commander Louis Thomas Spence: Timeline". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
- ^ "No. 25 Squadron". RAAF Museum. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
- ^ "Pilot killed in Korea; widow a Perth girl". The West Australian. Perth. 11 September 1950. p. 1. Retrieved 24 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "John Edgar Hill Swain". The AIF Project. University of New South Wales. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
- ^ RAAF Historical Section, Fighter Units, p. 4
- ^ "No. 3 Squadron". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ Herington, Air War Against Germany and Italy, pp. 211–212
- ^ Garrisson, Australian Fighter Aces, p. 146
- ^ Herington, Air War Against Germany and Italy, pp. 216–217
- ^ Shores; Massimello, A History of the Mediterranean Air War, p. 61
- ^ Dornan, Nicky Barr, p. 119
- ^ "No. 35709". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 September 1942. p. 4061.
- ^ "High praise for ace". The Telegraph. Brisbane. 11 September 1950. p. 7. Retrieved 24 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ RAAF Historical Section, Training Units, p. 62
- ^ a b RAAF Historical Section, Fighter Units, p. 122
- ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, pp. 104–106
- ^ Helson, The Forgotten Air Force, pp. 169–170, 176–177
- ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, pp. 136–139
- ^ "No. 37064". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 May 1945. pp. 2352–2353.
- ^ RAAF, Unit History of No. 452 Squadron, pp. 254–255
- ^ Helson, The Forgotten Air Force, p. 178
- ^ "Royal Australian Air Force". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Canberra. 19 October 1944. p. 2361. Retrieved 22 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ RAAF, Unit History of No. 452 Squadron, p. 238
- ^ RAAF, Unit History of No. 452 Squadron, p. 295
- ^ RAAF Historical Section, Training Units, p. 77
- ^ "Wing Commander Spence, RAAF leader, killed in Korea". The Canberra Times. 11 September 1950. p. 1. Retrieved 4 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Royal Australian Air Force". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Canberra. 3 January 1947. p. 27. Retrieved 16 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ RAAF, The Australian Experience of Air Power, pp. 142–143
- ^ Campbell-Wright, An Interesting Point, p. 161
- ^ Campbell-Wright, An Interesting Point, pp. 164–165
- ^ RAAF Historical Section, Fighter Units, pp. 60–61
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, p. 222
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 216–218
- ^ a b Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 222–224
- ^ Hurst, The Forgotten Few, pp. 11–12
- ^ O'Neill, Australia in the Korean War: Strategy & Diplomacy, pp. 52–53
- ^ Eather, Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force, pp. 89–91
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, p. 225
- ^ Wilson, The Brotherhood of Airmen, p. 158
- ^ Hurst, The Forgotten Few, pp. 32–33
- ^ O'Neill, Australia in the Korean War: Combat Operations, p. 305
- ^ Eather, Odd Jobs, p. 86
- ^ a b c Stephens, Going Solo, p. 226
- ^ Hurst, The Forgotten Few, p. 35
- ^ a b "Recommendation: United States Air Medal". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
- ^ Odgers, Mr Double Seven, p. 78
- ^ a b c d e Stephens, Going Solo, p. 227
- ^ a b Eather, Odd Jobs, pp. 92–94
- Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. 16 August 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
- ^ Hurst, The Forgotten Few, p. 55
- ^ Eather, Odd Jobs, p. 95
- ^ Wilson, The Brotherhood of Airmen, p. 160
- ^ Hurst, The Forgotten Few, p. 61
- ^ a b Eather, Odd Jobs, p. 97
- ^ Hurst, The Forgotten Few, pp. 62–64
- ^ Hurst, The Forgotten Few, p. 64
- ^ "Spence gave "his all"". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. 11 September 1950. p. 1. Retrieved 16 August 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "Recommendation: Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
- ^ "No. 39205". The London Gazette. 17 April 1951. p. 2186.
- ^ "No. 39265". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 June 1951. p. 3411.
- ^ "Mustang leader's body found". Daily News. Perth. 28 October 1950. p. 26. Retrieved 24 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Roll of Honour: Louis Thomas Spence". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
References
- Campbell-Wright, Steve (2014). An Interesting Point: A History of Military Aviation at Point Cook 1914–2014 (PDF). Canberra: Air Power Development Centre. ISBN 978-1-925-06200-7.
- Dornan, Peter (2005) [2002]. Nicky Barr: An Australian Air Ace. Crows Nest, New South Wales: ISBN 978-1-74114-529-8.
- Eather, Steve (1995). Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force. Weston Creek, Australian Capital Territory: Aerospace Publications. ISBN 978-1-875671-15-1.
- Eather, Steve (1996). Odd Jobs: RAAF Operations in Japan, the Berlin Airlift, Korea, Malaya & Malta, 1946–1960 (PDF). RAAF Williams, Victoria: ISBN 978-0-642-23482-7. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2022.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link - Garrisson, A.D. (1999). Australian Fighter Aces 1914–1953 (PDF). Fairbairn, Australian Capital Territory: Air Power Studies Centre. ISBN 978-0-642-26540-1.
- Helson, Peter (1997). The Forgotten Air Force: The Establishment and Employment of Australian Air Power in the North-Western Area, 1941–1945 (Masters). OCLC 224054611.
- Herington, John (1954). Australia in the War of 1939–1945: Series Three (Air) Volume III – Air War Against Germany and Italy 1939–1943. Canberra: OCLC 3633363.
- Hurst, Doug (2008). The Forgotten Few: 77 RAAF Squadron in Korea. Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-74175-500-8.
- OCLC 246580191.
- Odgers, George (2008). Mr Double Seven: A Biography of Wing Commander Dick Cresswell, DFC (PDF). Tuggeranong, Australian Capital Territory: Air Power Development Centre. ISBN 978-1-920800-30-7.
- ISBN 978-0-642-04329-0.
- O'Neill, Robert (1985). Australia in the Korean War 1950–53: Volume 2 – Combat Operations. Canberra: Australian War Memorial & Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 978-0-642-04330-6.
- RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force: A Concise History. Volume 2 – Fighter Units (PDF). Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 978-0-644-42794-4.
- RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force: A Concise History. Volume 8 – Training Units (PDF). Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 978-0-644-42800-2.
- Royal Australian Air Force (2013) [2007]. The Australian Experience of Air Power (PDF). Tuggeranong, Australian Capital Territory: Air Power Development Centre. ISBN 978-1-920800-92-5.
- Royal Australian Air Force (1941–1945). Unit History of No. 452 Squadron. National Archives of Australia.
- Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni (2012). A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940–1945. Volume 2: North African Desert, February 1942 – March 1943. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-909166-12-7.
- Stephens, Alan (1995). Going Solo: The Royal Australian Air Force 1946–1971 (PDF). Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 978-0-644-42803-3.
- Wilson, David (2005). The Brotherhood of Airmen. Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-74114-333-1.
External links
- Media related to Lou Spence at Wikimedia Commons