▁October ▁ 1 9 4 6 . ▁He ▁took ▁command ▁of ▁ ▁No .   7 7 ▁Squadron , ▁operating ▁P - 5 1 ▁Must angs ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁British ▁Commonwealth ▁Occ up ation ▁Force ▁in ▁Japan , ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 9 5 0 . ▁The ▁squad ron ▁went ▁into ▁action ▁within ▁a ▁week ▁of ▁the ▁out break ▁of ▁the ▁Korean ▁War ▁in ▁June . ▁Sp ence ▁was ▁killed ▁during ▁a ▁low - level ▁mission ▁over ▁South ▁Korea ▁in ▁September ▁ 1 9 5 0 . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁Born ▁on ▁ 4 ▁April ▁ 1 9 1 7 ▁in ▁Bund ab erg , ▁Queensland , ▁Louis ▁Thomas ▁Sp ence ▁was ▁the ▁fifth ▁child ▁of ▁Robert ▁John ▁Sp ence , ▁far mer , ▁and ▁Louise ▁Marg are tta ▁Marie , ▁ ▁Ko ob . ▁ ▁His ▁ancest ry ▁was ▁Irish ▁on ▁his ▁father ' s ▁side ▁and ▁German ▁on ▁his ▁mother ' s . ▁Sp ence ▁attended ▁Long re ach ▁State ▁School ▁from ▁ 1 9 2 4 ▁to ▁ 1 9 3 1 ▁and ▁Th orn burgh ▁College ▁in ▁Char ters ▁Tow ers ▁from ▁ 1 9 3 2 ▁to ▁ 1 9 3 4 . ▁Success ful ▁academ ically , ▁he ▁also ▁excel led ▁at ▁sports ▁including ▁cr icket , ▁rugby ▁league , ▁and ▁tennis . ▁His ▁light - bl ond ▁hair ▁earned ▁him ▁the ▁nick name ▁" Sil ver ". ▁He ▁was ▁employed ▁as ▁a ▁cl erk ▁at ▁the ▁Queensland ▁headquarters ▁of ▁the ▁Bank ▁of ▁New ▁South ▁Wales