▁in ▁Br is b ane , ▁and ▁studied ▁at ▁the ▁Bank ers ' ▁Institute ▁of ▁Austral asia . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁ ▁Sp ence ▁joined ▁the ▁Royal ▁Australian ▁Air ▁Force ▁( RA AF ) ▁on ▁ 6 ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 0 . ▁After ▁flying ▁training ▁at ▁Point ▁Cook , ▁Victoria , ▁and ▁Arch er field , ▁Queensland , ▁he ▁was ▁commission ed ▁as ▁a ▁pilot ▁officer ▁on ▁ 2 6 ▁August . ▁On ▁ 2 8 ▁October , ▁he ▁was ▁all otted ▁to ▁No .   2 5 ▁Squadron ▁in ▁Per th , ▁Western ▁Australia . ▁The ▁squad ron ▁operated ▁C AC ▁Wir raw ays . ▁Sp ence ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁flying ▁officer ▁on ▁ 2 6 ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 1 . ▁He ▁married ▁Vern on ▁Sw ain , ▁a ▁nur se , ▁in ▁St ▁George ' s ▁C athedral , ▁Per th , ▁on ▁ 2 4 ▁May ; ▁the ▁couple ▁had ▁two ▁children . ▁Sw ain ' s ▁father ▁had ▁been ▁a ▁pilot ▁with ▁the ▁Royal ▁F lying ▁Corps ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁I . ▁In ▁August , ▁Sp ence ▁was ▁posted ▁to ▁the ▁Middle ▁East . ▁He ▁under w ent ▁oper ational ▁flying ▁training ▁in ▁Kh art ou m , ▁Sud an , ▁before ▁joining ▁No . ▁ 3 ▁Squadron ▁in ▁September . ▁Based ▁in ▁Egypt , ▁No . ▁ 3 ▁Squadron ▁operated ▁P - 4 0 ▁Tom ah awk ▁f igh ters ▁against ▁German ▁and ▁Italian ▁forces . ▁ ▁On ▁ 1 ▁January ▁ 1