Alexander Lett Spence

Alexander Lett Spence (b. December 29, 1914, Renfrew, Ontario, Canada; d. May 1, 1965, San Jose, California) is notable as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross from the United Kingdom, for bravery during World War II. He was also the father of musician Alexander Lee Spence, professionally known as Skip Spence, a co-founder of Moby Grape.
History
Alexander Lett Spence was born on December 29, 1914, in Renfrew, Ontario, Canada. He later resided in Flower Station, Ontario, a small community in the Lanark Highlands of eastern Ontario, before moving to Windsor, Ontario, shortly after completing his war service. His son, Alexander Lee Spence, later professionally known as Skip Spence, was born in Windsor in 1946.
Spence received the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery during a raid on Aulnoye, during March 25 and 26, 1944. The citation for bravery reads as follows:
:Flying Officer Spence has completed a tour of operational duty during which he has attacked many heavily defended targets. On one occasion during an attack on Aulnoye two engines of his aircraft were severely damaged and the flight engineer seriously injured. Despite these harassing circumstances this officer pressed on and successfully completed his mission. He has at all times displayed courage, devotion to duty and a fine fighting spirit. He did not continue in the military, subsequent to the end of World War II. The Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded to him in 1945 and presented to him personally in 1949.<ref name=citation/>
In the late 1950s, Spence relocated his family from Windsor to San Jose, California, based on finding work in the aircraft industry. Spence also commenced performing along California's Route 66 as a singer-songwriter and piano player. Spence's move to California became pivotal to his son's career in music.
Spence died in San Jose, California, on May 1, 1965, at the age of 50. His body was returned to Canada, and enterred at Clyde Forks Cemetery, in Lanark County, Ontario.<ref name=funeral/>

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