▁was ▁a ▁f ighter ▁pilot ▁and ▁squad ron ▁commander ▁in ▁the ▁Royal ▁Australian ▁Air ▁Force ▁( RA AF ). ▁During ▁World ▁War   II ▁he ▁fle w ▁with ▁No .   3 ▁Squadron , ▁ear ning ▁the ▁Dist ingu ished ▁F lying ▁Cross ▁( DF C ), ▁and ▁commanded ▁No .   4 5 2 ▁Squadron , ▁receiving ▁a ▁M ention ▁in ▁Des patch es . ▁He ▁led ▁No .   7 7 ▁Squadron ▁in ▁the ▁opening ▁months ▁of ▁the ▁Korean ▁War , ▁and ▁was ▁awarded ▁a ▁bar ▁to ▁his ▁D FC , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁the ▁US ▁Leg ion ▁of ▁Mer it ▁and ▁the ▁US ▁Air ▁Medal , ▁for ▁his ▁leadership . ▁ ▁Born ▁in ▁Bund ab erg , ▁Queensland , ▁Sp ence ▁worked ▁in ▁a ▁bank ▁before ▁joining ▁the ▁RA AF ▁in ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 0 . ▁In ▁August ▁the ▁following ▁year ▁he ▁was ▁posted ▁to ▁North ▁Africa ▁with ▁No .   3 ▁Squadron , ▁which ▁operated ▁P - 4 0 ▁Tom ah aw ks ▁and ▁K itt y h aw ks ▁against ▁German ▁and ▁Italian ▁forces ; ▁he ▁was ▁cred ited ▁with ▁shooting ▁down ▁two ▁German ▁aircraft . ▁Sp ence ▁commanded ▁No .   4 5 2 ▁Squadron ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁flying ▁Super marine ▁Sp it f ires ▁in ▁defence ▁of ▁Australia ' s ▁North - West ern ▁Area ▁against ▁the ▁Japanese . ▁After ▁a ▁brief ▁return ▁to ▁civil ian ▁life ▁following ▁World ▁War   II , ▁he ▁rejo ined ▁the ▁RA AF ▁in