Voyle Ezra Spence was born on March 26, 1918, in Indian Creek Township, White County, Illinois. He was the son of Arthur Gilbert Spence and Fannie Phillips Spence. He was married to Ruth LaVerna Prest Spence.

Voyle served in the 366th Bomber Squadron, 305th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Navigator on the B-17 #42-5220 during World War II.

On April 16, 1943, his crew took off from Station 105 in Chelveston, England, on a bombing mission in Lorient, France. Under an unknown circumstance, their plane crashed at Kergunne in the commune of Languidic. Five crew members were killed in this incident, while the others were able to survive but were taken as prisoners. 2Lt Spence was one of the survivors. He was taken to Stalag Luft III in Zagan, Poland.

Voyle died on November 18, 2009, at the age of 91, in Urbana, Illinois. He is now buried in the Grandview Memorial Gardens, Champaign, Champaign County, Illinois.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net