Richard Allen Spencer
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Caption of left hand print: 'Dick Spencer - looking back toward camera'
Centre: 'Dick Spencer in center'
Right: 'Dick Glaser holding candy, Booker and Mac, Dick Spencer in front' Charles R Johnston collection
Sent through to the museum by Charles R Johnston's son, Charles.
Object Number - UPL 21419 - A page from First Lieutenant Charles R Johnston's photo album. Caption of left hand print: 'Dick Spencer - looking back toward camera' Centre:...
Richard Spencer served as a pilot with the 385th Bomb Group from Great Ashfield. He completed more than 30 combat missions in Europe before transferring to the 1403rd Air Force Base Unit, Air Transport Command. It was reported in May 1944 that he was piloting one of three Flying Fortresses that shot down 22 fighters over Berlin on a recent mission.
Spencer was killed when the C-60A (serial number 42-56015) he was piloting crashed on take-off from Prestwick, Scotland. It was later determined that the left engine failed after take-off at an altitude of 300 feet. Captain Spencer and his crew were ferrying the aircraft to the USA after they had completed their tours of duty. All five crew members were killed.
He left behind his wife Madeline and a young son Richard A Spencer Jr, whom he never met.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![A bomber crew of the 385th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '291701.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: Printed caption on reverse: 'US AIRFORCE IN GREAT DAYLIGHT OFFENSIVE ON EUROPE. The great daylight offensive on Europe continues, targets in Germany, France and Belgium being attacked by great formations of bombers and fighters from the US Army Air Force and the RAF. Photo shows: Before t](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380140.jpg.webp?itok=3DyNylCs)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: C-56 Lodestar
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Cleveland, OH, USA | 23 June 1915 | |
|
Enlisted |
Cleveland, OH, USA | 31 March 1942 | |
|
Died |
Prestwick, South Ayrshire, UK | 11 August 1944 | |
|
Other Qualified as a pilot |
Valdosta, GA, USA | ||
|
Buried |
Lake View Cemetery, 12316 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA |
Revisions
Correspondence with Richard A Spencer's granddaughter, Dawn.
See also:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207804557743677&set=pcb.57632…
Findagrave record: http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=spencer&GSfn=richard&…;
NARA enlistment record: https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=9&tf=F&q=spe…
