HISTORICAL CONTEXT

He was a member of the crew of Stirling Mk.IV LJ841, 196 Squadron, Royal Air Force (RAF).

They took off at 23:28 on the night of 5 June 1944 from RAF Keevil, Wiltshire to drop 17 paratroops of 5th Parachute Brigade, nine containers and one bicycle at drop zone 'N' near Ranville as part of Operation Tonga (6th Airborne Division's parachute and glider assault in the early hours of D-Day).

The paratroopers were dropped successfully but he was killed when it the aircraft was presumed to have been hit by German anti-aircraft fire and was seen in flames just east of the drop zone.

It crashed near Cagny Cemetery, Calvados, killing all on board.