Date of birth:

March 18th, 1918 (Bedford/Bedfordshire, Great Britain)

Date of death:

February 8th, 2009 (Odiham/Hampshire, Great Britain)

Nationality:

British

Terence Spencer was born in Bedford during a First World War zeppelin raid. He attended Cheltenham College before studying engineering at Birmingham University. With the outbreak of war in 1939, Spencer joined the Royal Air Force. As a pilot, he flew Mustangs and Spitfires, and eventually became commander of two squadrons.
Spencer's war experience was dramatic. He was twice captured and made prisoner of war, and escaped once. He is listed in the Guinness Book of Records for making the lowest jump on record, having parachuted from only 30 feet (9.1 metres) above the Baltic.
After the war, he flew a single-engine aeroplane 8,000 miles to South Africa, where he reportedly became involved in diamond smuggling before turning to a career in photography. He married London actress Lesley Brook, and they and set up an aerial photography business outside Johannesburg.
In 1952, Spencer joined Life magazine as a photojournalist. He worked for the magazine for the next 20 years, reporting on stories and conflict in Africa and the Middle East, the Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile Crisis. He also became involved in CIA covert activities.
Spencer he returned to England to cover the Beatles and the 60s cults and fashions, and in 1972 started to freelance for The New York Times, People and other US publications.
In 2002, Spencer released 'Living Dangerously', a book about his life and career.
In September 2008, cancer was diagnosed and Spencer was told that he would not live until Christmas. A bon vivant to the end, he invited all his friends to a pre-wake party on December 21.
After 62 years of marriage, Terry and Lesley Spencer died within 24 hours of each other.

Promotions:
11 oktober 1941: Pilot Officer (probation)
1 oktober 1942: Flying Officer (war sub)
11 oktober 1943: Flying Officer (war sub)

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Squadron Leader

Unit:

Corps of Royal Engineers

Awarded on:

June 22nd, 1945

Citation:
"This officer's keenness for air operations has won great praise. He has completed a very large number of sorties and has invariably attacked his targets with great courage and determination thereby achieving much success. One one occasion in February, 1945, Squadron Leader Spencer was forced to come down in enemy territory. He was captured, but subsequently rejoined his unit. He has been responsible for the destruction of one enemy aircraft and a good number of mechanical vehicles."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Squadron Leader

Unit:

Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

January 24th, 1947

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Squadron Leader

Unit:

Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

November 28th, 1947

• - Fifth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37142 published on the 19 June 1945
  - The London Gazette Issue 37863 published on the 24 January 1947
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 38134 published on the 25 November 1947
  - Exploring 20th Century London
  - The Times Online -Obituaries
  - Spartacus Educational