Laurence Crane was a Flying Officer in 12 Squadron RAF, which formed part of 1 Group, Bomber Command. On the night of 3rd/4th November 1943 Laurence took part in a bombing raid against Dusseldorf. 589 aircraft went on the operation, including 344 Lancasters, 233 Halifaxes and 12 Mosquitos.

The main weight of the raid fell in the centre and south of the city with extensive damage both to housing and to industrial premises. Laurence was the pilot of Lancaster III DV218 coded named PH-G2 which took off from RAF Wickenby in Lincolnshire at 17:18. Eighteen aircraft were lost, comprising eleven Lancasters and seven Halifaxes and Laurence's aircraft was one of those lost; it crashed into the Rhine killing all the crew.

The other crew members who lost their lives were Sgt. J.Anderson, Sgt. R.L.Brunton, Sgt. A.Evans, Sgt. F.Erwood, Sgt. J.Cullen and Flying Officer J.Hagan. All but one of the crew are buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.