Spence, Thomas William

Personal Details

SurnameSpence
First nameThomas
Middle nameWilliam
Date of birth14/01/1916
Place of birthLongreach, Qld
Date of death10/05/1946

Details

Thomas was the son of Thomas Alexander Spence and Lola Heap, born in Longreach.

Thomas William Spence and his cousin Thomas William Spence were grandsons of the well known pastoralist Thomas Spence of Rosedale Longreach, a resumption from Wellshot station which Thomas Spence selected in 1894.
[Source: kspence@powerup.com.au]

War Records

Conflict

ServiceRAAF
Service number404266
Date of enlistment19/07/1940
Place of enlistmentBrisbane, Qld
Date of discharge16/09/1941
Posting at discharge3 RAAF Hospital
RankSergeant
Prisoner of war

No

Source

www.ww2roll.gov.au

Notes

He joined the RAAF on 19 July 1940 but when it was discovered he was a diabetic, he was discharged on 16 September 1941, his rank at discharge was Sergeant and his posting at discharge was at 3 RAAF Hospital. Thomas William Spence went on to join the Australian National Airlines and advised that his medical discharge from the RAAF was for a minor complaint and when he returned to Australia from Canada he found he had been cured. On 10th March 1946 Tom was the Chief Pilot of the Australian National Airlines DC47 airliner which crashed into the sea off Seven Mile Beach near Cambridge Airport, Hobart, Tasmania a few minutes after take off killing all 21 passengers and 4 crew members.