Son of Earl Winfield and Agnes Lucy Marion Hughes Spencer.

Decoration:
Croix de Guerre with star and Medalle Militaire
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THE LAFAYETTE FLYING CORPS
Edited by
James Norman Hall
and
Charles Bernard Nordhoff

Spencer's keenness to fly and constant anxiety to get to the Front were noticeable all through his period of training. At Tours, at Avord, and at Pau, he was impatient of every delay which retarded, even for a few hours, his progress toward active duty. On December 27, 1917, he arrived at Belfort, assigned to the N. 150, a squadron which was at that time equipped with the Type 27 Nieuports. On his first patrol over the lines, he found occasion to show his daring and aggressive spirit, for he became lost from the formation and flew alone into the enemy lines on the lookout for trouble. At Mulhouse, ten miles into German territory, he found a lone Albatross practicing acrobacy over the city. Spencer plunged headlong to the attack and a point-blank combat ensued, watched, no doubt, by hundreds of Germans in the town below. Several times both pilots went into vrilles with full motor, pulled out and renewed the combat, until at last Spencer lost his opponent and returned to his aerodrome, the Nieuport bearing many scars of battle.

During his short life at the Front, Spencer became known as the keenest man in his squadron, flying whenever possible, no matter how cold or windy the day. He was possessed of but one idea; to shoot down German machines. His one complaint was the difficulty of getting a combat on the quiet Alsatian Front.

On January 22, 1918, Spencer made his last patrol. Returning from the lines, he left his formation and flew to a target near the aerodrome, where the pilots were encouraged to try their skill in shooting. While making a sharp turn over the target, his machine lost speed and fell in a spin, crashing to the ground and killing Spencer instantly. His loss was a bitter one, for he had endeared himself to many friends, and would have gone far had he been spared.
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Born December 4, 1895, in Chicago, Illinois. At Phillips Academy, from which he graduated in 1913, he was a member of the Phi Lambda Delta society. At Yale he became a leader. He was on the Dramatic Club and the Junior Promenade Committee; he was manager of the basketball team and President of the Minor Sports; and he belonged to Alpha Delta Phi and Wolf's Head. While in college, Spencer gained some experience in aviation with the 1st Battery of the New York State Militia. He sailed for France, June 20, 1917, joined the LaFayette Escadrille, received his pilot's brevet at Tours, October 20, 1917, and was later commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.

[http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=1921
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His picture was included in:

Roll of Honor,
Chicago Men Who Have Died for Their Country.

CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE
Sunday, March 31, 1918
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His brother, Earl Winfield_Spencer Jr