Jack Whalen was Radio Operator on B-24 “Pregnant Peg”, Serial 42-50328 (44th BG/506th BS), one of the Squadron’s 8 Liberators sent to bomb the La Perth airfield in Romilly, France on 8 August 1944. Just after take-off, the ship lost one of its engines. Pilot Jacobs decided to abort the mission and tried to return to the base. While flying the traffic pattern, the pilot attempted to get back to Shipdham but as a result of turning into the dead engine, it spun in and crashed with a full load of bombs and exploded at 11:55 hours alongside the road at Birds Corner, Yaxham near Dereham, Norfolk, 4km northeast of the base. The load comprised 46 x 100lb fragmentation bombs, half of which exploded in the crash and others in the ensuing fire. All 10 crew members lost their lives in the incident and are recorded as DOI (Died of Injuries).