Jack Grain

killed when Stirling IV LK193 of 196 Squadron RAF Shepherds Grove, Diss, Norfolk, crashed into North Sea off Cromer while on a night-time mission to Denmark. The Stirling was heading for an SOE operation 'Table Jam 260' carrying 24 containers & 4 panniers for Danish resistance units. It crashed on the coast of Sheringham at 22:50hrs when it suddenly dived into the sea from 200ft. All of the crew were killed except F/Sgt Arthur Bennett, who died on 02/06/45 from injuries suffered in the crash. One witness said he and his wife were taking a stroll, when they saw the Stirling heading towards the beach. He estimated that it was only a 100 feet in altitude, then all of sudden it exploded and crashed. Cause of the crash is unknown but the nature of the operation meant the Stirling had "All Up Weight" of 71,000lb and it is thought this 1,000lb overload contributed to the lack of height and eventual crash. W/O Grain, wireless operator/air gunner, had been on “very many” operational flights–making two raids on Genoa from England within 19 hours during 1942–and took part in the aerial operations on D-Day and at Arnhem. He was buried at at Cambridge City Cemetery with his crew mates.
P/O Neville Carroll RAAF
W/O Gilbert Hughes
F/Sgt Reginald Marshall
W/O Stanley Philo
F/Sgt Arthur Bennett

Unknown