WW II VETERAN
KILLED IN SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY

Captain Richard Allen Spencer
was a Pilot of B-17 Flying Fortress
Heavy Bomber Aircraft, with the 8th Air
Force, 385th Bomb Group, 551st Bomb Squadron,
stationed at Great Ashfield, England. He
completed more than 30 combat missions on
enemy targets in Germany, France, Poland,
Belgium, the Netherlands, and Norway.

At the time of his Death, Captain Richard
Allen Spencer was attached to the 1403rd
Air Force Base Unit; Air Transport Command.

Captain Spencer was Killed in the crash on
take-off of C-60A; serial#:42-56015; at
Prestwick, Scotland. It was later determined
that the Left Engine failed after take-off at
an altitude of 300 feet. Capt. Spencer and
his crew were ferrying the aircraft to the
U.S. after they each had completed their
combat tours of duty. All five crew
members were killed.

The CREW:
Pilot: Captain Elmer N. White~O-802630
~Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH

Co-Pilot: Captain Richard Allen Spencer~O-802476
~Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH

Navigator: 1st Lt. Walter E. Newcomb~O-807282
~Shaker Heights, Cuyahoga County, OH

Radio Operator: Staff Sergeant Jerry C. Layton
~19081001~Greene County, MO

Engineer: Staff Sergeant Gerard F. Phillips
~12037078~Queens County, NY
++++++++++++++++
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland, Ohio
Monday, 01 May 1944
Page 1 & Page 12

PILOT ONLY YEAR, HE BAGS SIX NAZIS

Son Marks Anniversary of Wings,
Mother Says

First Lieutenant Richard A. Spencer
always was one for celebrating
anniversaries in a grand manner.

That was what his mother, Mrs. Ward
J. Spencer, 18224 Landseer Road, N.E.,
said last night as she gasped at the
news that her son's bomber was one of
three Flying Fortresses credited with
destroying 22 German fighter planes
over Berlin Saturday.

As soon as she regained her composure
she observed that last Saturday was
the first anniversary of the day when
Lieut. Spencer received his pilot's
wings and second lieutenancy at the
Columbus (Mississippi) army air base.

According to Associated Press dispatches
from a Flying Fortress base in England,
the three bombers' destruction of the
large number of fighters probably
established a record for a trio of
bombers flying in the same group.
Spencer's ship was credited with the
destruction of six enemy fighters.

At the controls of the other two
Fortresses were Lieuts. John M.
Gibbons, 29, of Jefferson City,
Mo., and William B. Clark, 23, of
Beech Creek, Ky.

"The sky was filled with so much
confusion" Lieut. Spencer commented
upon return to his base, "what with
exploding planes, flying debris,
parachutes, bursting flak, and
exploding shells, that it was all
fantastic, but horribly real to us
up there in the midst of it."

Spencer, 28, was always a determined
chap, his mother said. She thought
this attitude probably carried him
through the day of terrific air combat.

"He got his first promotion because of
his determination to do a good job."
she observed. "It was at Dalhart,
Tex., shortly before he went overseas
last January.

"Dick was flying an army major on a
mission when one of his engines went
bad. It looked as if they wouldn't
be able to get back to their base,
and the major told Dick that he should
abandon the plane and order the crew
to bail out.

"CREW NOT BAILING OUT"
"Since Dick was in charge, he refused.
He said that his crew wasn't bailing
out of any plane--that he would take
it home. Well, he got it back in one
piece, and the major was so impressed
that he recommended Dick for a
promotion to first lieutenant."

Lieut. Spencer has been in the army
nearly two years and has been overseas
only three months. In that time he
has had two planes so badly damaged
that they have been junked. He is
now on his third Fortress, which has
been named, "The Worry Bird" by its
crew.

Spencer is a graduate of Collinwood
Hogh School and worked for the General
Electric Co. at Nela Park before
enlisting.

Equally happy over Spencer's first
anniversary celebration were his wife,
Madaline, and their son, Richard Allen
Spencer, II, just two months old.

Of course, Richard Allen Spencer, II
does not know what it's all about, but
if he did, he would probably shout:
"That's my Pop!"
++++++++++++
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland, Ohio
Monday, 21 August 1944
Page 1 & Page 10

CRASH IN SCOTLAND KILLS 3 CITY FLIERS
Tragedy Cancels Reunion Here

Happiness of three Greater Cleveland
families over the coming arrival here
of three army fliers who had completed
their tours of duty over enemy Europe
turned to grief last night with receipt
of word that an aircraft accident Aug.
11 at Prestwick, Scotland, had cost
the lives of the airmen.

Two of those who died in the accident,
the exact nature of which has not been
revealed, were pilots of Flying Fortresses
who entered service together, served at
the same base in England, achieved
captaincies and received the Distinguished
Flying Cross at the same time.

The other flier was a member of a socially
prominent Cleveland Heights family and
had just completed his service as a
navigator.

Killed in the air accident in Scotland
were:
Captain Richard A. Spencer, 29, husband
of Mrs. Madeline Spencer, 14102 Aspinwall
Avenue, N.E., and son of Mr. and Mrs.
Ward Spencer, 18224 Landseer Avenue, N.E.

Captain Elmer N. White, 29, husband of
Mrs. Audrey White, and son of Josephine
White, both of 12467 Cedar Road, Cleveland
Heights; and of Samuel H. White, 12505
Edgewater Drive, Lakewood.

First Lieutenant Walter Newcomb, 23,
husband of Mrs. Anita Crawford Newcomb,
and son of Dr. and Mrs. Walter E. Newcomb
all of 19213 Shelbourne Road, Shaker
Heights.

Before they left for training together,
Captains Spencer and White had never
seen each other. They were assigned
to the same cadet school and then
separated when they went to different
advanced training fields.

However, they met again in England when
they both were assigned to the same
Flying Fortress base. They had both
completed 30 combat missions against
the enemy and were believed en route
home when killed.

Both fliers had received the Air Medal
and four Oak Leaf Clusters in addition
to the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Captain Spencer was the father of a
six-month old son, Richard A., Jr.,
whom he had never seen.

After his graduation from Collingwood
High School, he was employed here by
the General Electric Company. He was
commissioned at Columbus, Mississippi,
and went overseas last January.

Last May, Captain Spencer figured in
the news dispatches from England, when
his ship was credited with the destruction
of six enemy fighter planes over Berlin.

Captain White had been overseas since
February. He was a graduate of East
High School and attended the University
of Pennsylvania. Before entering the
army with Captain Spencer in July 1942,
he was employed by the Hinde and Dauch
Co. He received his wings at Valdosta,
Georgia in April 1943.
++++++++++++
After the War Ended, the remains of Captain
Richard Allen Spencer were returned to the
U.S. for burial, according to the wishes
of his next of kin. Nearly 5 years had
passed since his death, and his widow,
Madeline (nee Brown) Spencer had remarried.

Name: Spencer, Capt. Richard A.
Date: Feb 23 1949
Source: Source unknown;
Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #076.
Notes: Spencer, Capt. Richard A.,
Father of Richard, Jr.; Son of Mr. and Mrs.
Ward Spencer; Brother of John H. and
Louis F.; On Aug. 11, 1944, at Presswick,
Scotland.

Friends may call at Chas. Melbourne & Sons'
Colonial Home, 12777 Euclid Ave. Graveside
services Wednesday, Feb. 23, at Lake View
Cemetery.

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