A good read sent by Dan/+Tiff .
Lew/+Silat
=============================================
Just got a few prints back. I'd had the negatives since back in the
80s, given to me by a former Spitfire driver.
The photo I'm posting is now one of my favorites. His name is Terry
Spencer. I think it must have been one helluva ride to be him. Just a
short listing of his accomplishments.
-Flew Mustangs, Spit Vs, IXs, XIIs and XIV's with the RAF
-Flight commander in 41 Squadron during the summer of 44. Covered D-Day
and the fight against the flying bombs. Lead the squadron in scoring,
including one he tipped with his wing, a tough and dangerous thing to do
with a clipped wing Spit.
-Shot down the last 190 claimed by a Spit XII before they were withdrawn
from service just prior to Arnhem.
-Took over as Squadron Leader of 350 Squadron made up of Belgian pilots,
flying Spit XIVs.
-Shot down and made POW on February 26, 1945. Escaped from the POW camp
with another former 41 Squadron pilot. Stole a motorcycle and raced
across the Remagen bridge to Allied lines. Steve McQueen did it in the
movies and failed. This guy did it for real and made it.
-Went back to 350 Squadron and took command again.
-April 19, 1945. Took a flak hit between the radiators of his Spit XIV.
He was at roughly 50 feet if not lower. Plane desintigrated with the
engine still going forward. Spencer somehow got out of his seat, pulled
the ripcord and survived, falling into the water of Wismar Bay. He is
in the Guiness book of world records for the lowest survived bailout
from this event.
-Married a film actress, whose brother had won the Victoria Cross flying
Manchesters.
-Postwar became a photographer, covering most of the major conflicts
including Vietnam and many in Africa.
-Took some of the first pictures of the Beatles in 63-64 for Life
Magazine and got to know the "lads" during that time.
-Traced Paul McCartney to Scotland during the "Paul is dead" drama in
69. Got a punch in the nose from Paul for his troubles. McCartney
later apologized and gave Terry the photos that appeared in Life
magazine showing the bearded McCartney and his kids, photos taken by Linda.
A really boring life to say the least
Terry in the cockpit of his
bubble canopy Spit XIV just prior to his April 19th shoot down.
Dan
+Tiff
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
