I had heard
JS was quite ill last time I visited Bruntingthorpe and had made a decision that if possible I would attend his funeral as he was the best Boss I ever served under during my career. Alas this is not possible due to pressing arrangements. I posted on a couple of Facebook sites a humorous story... I hope you don't mind me sharing here......
A personal story of John Spencer at RAF Binbrook in the early 80’s. He was the Boss of 11 (F) Squadron and I was a corporal Ramp Tramp ! (Flight servicing the jets on the pan – a busy and physical existence)
JS was a fearsome fighter pilot of the ‘Old school’ persuasion and took no prisoners if annoyed .... on a good day he scared the crap out of the majority of squadron members.
He was immediately recognisable as he wore a canvass under helmet and a silver bone dome... I doubt if it was even legal but I digress...
On the day in question we were slightly short of manpower and it was really busy. I got scrambled out of the Line Hut with one mechanic to see in 2 jets that were already waiting (not a great start). We ran into position, taxied the first in and slung in some wheel chocks. I ran to the next vacant slot and started to marshal the second one in. I then saw the helmet, it was silver, .... Oh bugger!
I rushed around doing the checks and slinging in the chocks. As the engines were running down I got the aircraft steps. The Lightning has 4 holes (and slots) in the fuselage and the steps have 4 metal knobs that fit in and slide down to securely attach the ladders to the jet. There are also 2 seater Lightning’s with slightly different front fuselages. These required different steps. But a clever person had also designed a set of steps that one set of knobs could be loosened and rotated, to choose if they were for single or 2 seat operations. We never used this function as we had loads of steps on the flight line. The set I grabbed were of this type and unbeknown to me the top knob retaining bolts had worked loose. To fit said steps you pushed the 4 knobs into the holes, slid them down and then jumped on the bottom rung to make sure they were OK. So far so good.
JS unstrapped, stood up and stepped out and turned around to descend the ladder, silver bone dome still on head. As he went down about two steps the ladders detached from the top two holes and swung violently outwards. Oh My God !! He held on grimly as the backs of his knees hit the in-flight refuelling probe, his feet were propelled off the ladders and his shins painfully struck the nearest metal rung, he let go with his hands and fell backwards over the probe !! He ended up with his shins painfully wedged in the ladders, his knees locked around the probe and upside down; eyeball to eyeball with yours truly. I am dead meat.... my only option was to get on the ladder as best I could and thump him as hard as I could between the shoulder blades to push him up and over the probe and upright again. This I did but it took 2 or 3 attempts. When I managed to get him upright I dejectedly held the base of the ladder as he descended. Lightning flight lines are noisy places but words were not required ..... I took the full force of a red faced John Spencer 30 second stare .... Well, that’s my career down the swanny...
I carried out the turn round in sullen silence and went back to the line hut. About an hour later the call came. Boss’s Office 10 minute.... this is it, my life is about to change for the worse.. changed into ‘blues’ grabbed my beret and waited ... the Sqn Adj marched me in and I slung up the bestest salute of my career and stood to attention awaiting the ‘hair dryer treatment’ .... seconds passed. Jeez, I’m getting kicked off this squadron... “Take your headdress off and sit down” was the barked order. I did. “Have you anything to say for yourself?” I trotted out the most grovelling of apologies and our eyes met .... “Son, Your face was a f***ing picture” and he just beamed at me !! “Well Sir, yours was too!!” was my very relieved and slightly cheeky reply. Phew...
I stayed on the Squadron under the command of
JS. Had a great time and was promoted at the end of it. He went on to command RAF Binbrook and we both met a few years ago at Bruntingthorpe where he signed a commemorative print for me. We belly laughed over this incident.
Rest In Peace John Spencer – Fighter pilot