▁to ▁Lou ▁Sp ence ", ▁the ▁squad ron ▁" was ▁led ▁perfectly ▁in ▁all ▁the ▁jobs ▁it ▁did ". ▁ ▁Leg acy ▁According ▁to ▁his ▁brother , ▁quoted ▁in ▁the ▁Br is b ane ▁Cou rier - Mail , ▁Sp ence ▁wrote ▁in ▁his ▁last ▁letter ▁home : ▁ ▁Fl ight ▁Lieutenant ▁( l ater ▁Air ▁Vice - Mar shal ) ▁Fred ▁Bar nes ▁described ▁Sp ence ' s ▁death ▁as ▁having ▁" a ▁trem end ous ▁impact   ... ▁He ▁was ▁very ▁popular ▁and ▁respect ed ▁as ▁a ▁professional . ▁It ▁was ▁accepted ▁that ▁he ▁was ▁on ▁the ▁way ▁to ▁high ▁rank ." ▁The ▁official ▁history ▁of ▁the ▁post - war ▁Air ▁Force ▁cont ended ▁that ▁Sp ence ▁" app eared ▁dest ined ▁for ▁the ▁highest ▁levels ▁of ▁the ▁RA AF ". ▁Str atem ey er ▁r ated ▁him ▁" one ▁of ▁the ▁most ▁capable ▁field ▁command ers ▁I ▁have ▁been ▁associated ▁with ", ▁and ▁" one ▁of ▁the ▁no bl est ▁and ▁fin est ▁officers ▁of ▁any ▁service ". ▁ ▁Sp ence ▁was ▁recommended ▁for ▁the ▁Dist ingu ished ▁Service ▁Order ▁for ▁his ▁" out standing ▁fear less ▁leadership ▁and ▁distinction " ▁in ▁Korea , ▁but ▁the ▁award ▁was ▁changed ▁to ▁a ▁bar ▁to ▁his ▁D FC . ▁The ▁decor ation ▁was ▁prom ul g ated ▁in ▁The ▁London ▁Gazette ▁on ▁ 1 7 ▁April ▁ 1 9 5 1 ▁and ▁presented ▁to ▁his ▁wife ▁on ▁ 2 2 ▁February ▁ 1 9 5 2 . ▁His ▁awards ▁of ▁the ▁US