For gallantry in action . . . while serving as bombardier . . . on 26 November 1943. A 20mm. shell exploded in the nose, killed the navigator, seriously injured Lt. Spencer, and destroyed the plexi-glass nose. The flight engineer removed Lt. Spencer to a position of safety, but Lt. Spencer, realizing that enemy fighters were attacking and thinking only of protecting his crew members and the plane, crawled back to his guns to ward off the attacks. Exposing himself to the extreme cold blast through the nose, and facing the possibility of being thrown out by evasive action, Lt. Spencer remained at his post until the attacks ceased. In doing so, Lt. Spencer sustained frostbite so severe that only by the barest margin were surgeons able to save his life . . ."

The 26th of November 1943 saw the largest 8AF operation to date. That day 35 303rd B-17s were part of an 8th Air Force formation of over 500 bombers sent to Bremen in northern Germany. As the 303rd formation began its bomb run, the B-17 Stardust, of the 358th Bomb Squadron, was seriously damaged by three German fighters attacking from the nose. 20mm shells knocked out the nose plexi-glass, instantly killing the navigator and seriously wounding Spencer, the bombardier. Lt Spencer suffered serious cuts on his face and had his helmet and oxygen mask ripped off, and with the air temperature minus 67 degrees, he lay in the wind swept nose until the flight engineer dragged him into the pilot's compartment. 

By this time his face was so swollen it was hard to see his nose and it was difficult to give him oxygen. The flight engineer then left to attend to other wounded crew members. Lt Spencer, barely conscious and frozen, heard the enemy fighters attacking and struggled back to his nose guns, exposing himself to the blast of extremely cold air coming through the shattered nose, and the risk of being thrown out by the violent maneuvers of the aircraft. He continued to fire his guns until the enemy attacks ceased, and was found unconscious under his guns when the badly mangled B-17 and crew managed to make an emergency landing at Docking-Fort, England. 

Although thought dead, Lt Spencer survived despite loss of all of his fingers, an eye, and months of operations to rebuild his face and a new nose and ears. Lt Spencer spent 2 1/2 years in the hospital. He was awarded the nation's second highest award for heroism, the Distinguished Service Cross. After graduating from a Seminary, he was Chaplain of the Kansas Soldiers Home for 29 years. Now completely blind, he lives in Dodge City with his wife of 56 years.