Obituary

CEng FRAeS
1925-2021

Richard (Dick) Spencer was born in Coventry where his lifetime interest in aviation was first kindled, observing a flypast of the R101 airship. His grandfather took him, in a side-car, to the Cardington Airsheds and also to see Sir Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus at Whitley. At 15, Dick won an apprenticeship at Alvis Ltd, who produced aero-engines and super-chargers for Rolls-Royce. In 1943, Dick volunteered for aircrew but was trained as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. With the ending of the war in Europe he underwent jungle training in preparation for the war with Japan but this ceased with the atom bomb.

​​While still in demob, Dick joined the Miles Aircraft Technical School but at weekends continued to fly as a Signaller in Tiger Moths and Anson Mk1s at Woodley. He passed his AFRAeS exams, just before MATS closed and joined Shorts Brothers (Belfast) as a design draughtsman. His initial work was on the Sperrin bomber and Sealand amphibian.

Hearing a radio announcement that RAuxAF 502 Squadron were seeking additional pilots, Dick joined the following day. Granted unpaid leave from Shorts, Dick gained his wings at Heany, Southern Rhodesia, flying Tiger Moths and Harvards and winning the ‘Cup of Honour’ for the best all round pilot. On his return, Dick converted to jets, flying Vampires and Meteors with 502 Squadron.

Rejoining Shorts, Missile Division, Dick was part of the Seacat and Tigercat design teams, before moving to the Flight Test team that were completing the development and production testing of Shorts aircraft, including the Britannia. He continued his flying at weekends until 502 Squadron was disbanded. He then joined No13 AEF, flying Chipmunks and Bulldogs.

At this time, Shorts had connections with Beech Aircraft and, after a period in Wichita, Dick managed a Sales and Service distribution at Gatwick Airport, until political changes caused it to close. Returning to Belfast, Dick rejoined the Flight Test team who were now testing the Belfast and Skyvan aircraft. Recognising the lack of attention to safety training and poor equipment maintenance, Dick began rectifications, including dingy training for the flight test observers and engineers. All went well, until one inquisitive pupil pulled the sea-marker on his Mae West, turning the whole swimming pool bright green.

Against some opposition, including some ridicule, Dick obtained a Civil Licence for the Harbour (now George Best) Airport. Unfortunately, the 1971 crash of Rolls-Royce had an adverse impact on Shorts and Dick’s name was one of those that came ‘out of the hat’ for redundancy. He moved to Aldergrove (now Belfast International) Airport as Operations Manager and was key to introducing CAT III auto-landing prior to his retirement.

In his retirement, Dick concentrated on his hobbies of wood carving and model making, being elected to the Guild of Master Craftsmen and Guild of Irish Wood Turners. Although his flying career with AEF had also ended, when the authorities realised his age and advised that ‘the Queen wanted her Bulldog back’, Dick continued his connection with aviation, being a regular guest to RAF Aldergrove, a member of Ulster Aviation Society and also as VP of the RAeS Belfast Branch, attending until the pandemic. Dick initially joined RAeS in 1947 and his longevity was recognised by the Society, who presented him with the Branches Award in October 2011.

Dick met his wife Diana, while in the Missile Division. Diana predeceased him. They had a son, Richard, married to Carol, and daughter, Tara, plus three delightful grandchildren.

John Miller