Cranefield was a Dakota pilot on No 233 Squadron who flew into Normandy to support the D-Day beachhead.  During Operation Market Garden, the airborne assault on the bridges in the Netherlands, he towed a glider to Arnhem on  the first wave.  On a later wave he was seriously wounded but continued to the DZ to drop his supplies.  He was awarded an immediate DFC.

Photographed at Arnhem September 2014

To read full obituary click HERE