HISTORICAL CONTEXT

He was a passenger on board Stirling Mk.IV EF295, 620 Squadron, Royal Air Force. It took off from RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire at 23:45 on 5 June 1944 to drop men of 591 Parachute Squadron, 6th Airborne Division plus two men of Headquarters, Royal Engineers, 6th Airborne Division east of the River Orne.

The squadron was tasked to clear an area for gliders of 6th Airborne Division who were due to land a few hours later. However, the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed close to Château de Grangues, Grangues, Normandy. He was killed as a result of the crash.