Kenneth Eugene LEBL

Liberator B-24 N° 42-94789 et le surnom « Moby Dick »

Take-Off Station 152 Debah Suffolk UK

Mission: Bombing of Lisieux (14)

Air collision at 11,000 feet with the B-24 44-40471 Cpt Jack COOPER at 10:28(Macr 5485)

Map Brittany American Cemetery

 Godfather of speech:

After my visit to the American cemetery of St James, France, in June 2013, I wondered if I had to adopt a grave, because I live far away.

But, as I travel to Normandy at least once a year and that the cemetery of St James is not far from the landing beaches, I decided to adopt one.

On receipt of my request, the manager told me that there were still many non-sponsored graves and I asked for a second.

The man's name is on the Wall of the Disappeared.

More information

Kenneth Lebel was a crew member (navigator) on a B-24 Liberator was part of the fleet with the No. 42-94789 and the nickname "Moby Dick"

These aircraft participated in the first mission of the 862nd squadron of heavy bombers called "Hellcats Heltons" . This first mission, which took place June 6, 1944 was to the bombing of Lisieux (France), but the clouds were so thick that the Liberators could not drop their bombs and had to turn back with their loads.

At about 10:28, at 11 000 feet above the English Channel, the "Moby Dick" collided with another B-24 Liberator called "No love No Nothin 'No. 44-40471 which had apparently struck the tail of "Moby Dick". Both planes have disappeared in the clouds and have sunk in the sea. This is Lieutenant Donald Russell who piloted the B-24 in which Kenneth was Lebl browser. The 10 crew members perished in the crash. In the "No Love No Nothin ', 9 men were killed and one was captured.

Crew B24 Liberator - Type J s/n 42-94789 Carré X "Moby Dick"