In looking for stories of men who served on or near D-Day, William l. Spencer’s story certainly stands out for several reasons.
His wife, Wilda, and his children, donated his personal war effects shortly after his death. Some of these effects are so rare, I consider them some of our most priceless museum pieces.
Bill, as he was called, trained at the Army airfield in Armore, Oklahoma, home of the 222nd Combat Crew Training School and became a part of the 96th Bomb Group.
Bill trained in England at Snetteron Heath, an airbase surrounded by quaint English cottages. The finest and greatest trained at the base and it was from there that 2nd lieutenant William Spencer prepared for D-Day.
Bill and his crew trained in and flew many missions in the B-17 flying fortress. Preparing for D-Day, the fliers battled for two years in 321 missions to destroy by dropping bombs. The 96th bomb group to which Bill was a part of recored the most likely highest casualties and greatest loss of aircraft in enemy action than any of the other 40-plus bomb groups of the 8th Air Force.
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