If I recall correctly, he volunteered for a secret mission in England, which was to pilot one of several bombers that were packed with explosives, and then once airborne, bail out just before the plane left the English coast.
One the pilot bailed, the planes were supposed to be piloted by radio control clear across the English channel and into fortified bunkers housing giant German costal cannon.
His plane exploded by accident before he bailed.
I believe other planes in this mission did hit their targets, however it was later discovered that the Germans had long since removed the guns from the bunkers, so the whole effort was for nothing anyway.