Updated 8 September 2023
You might recall that I previously wrote to you about KW-E, specifically the X3763 version, I’ve done some digging and found out that X3763 had the KW-E code back in the summer of 1942, and so my apologies for raising a red flag on that.
Gary Brooks
John Maurice LeBlanc’s memorial is found on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial, but there is very little information to pay him homage.
However John Maurice LeBlanc is remembered by clicking on the PDF link below.
Gary Brooks sent me the PDF file and several more files taken from the British Archives. It was related to this mysterious iconic photo that is found everywhere on the Internet…
Gary Brooks commented on one of my other blogs.
Hi there, the details here are a little off, it’s a strange story surrounding X3763 and its squadron code. Curiously X3763 was never officially recorded as flying with the squadron code KW-E. It flew as KW-B for two missions in January 1943 and then adopted KW-L for the next 11 missions, the last to Stuttgart resulting in its loss. It’s unclear why it was painted up as KW-E for the photo shoot as this was the squadron code being carried by HE475 at the time. HE475 was lost two days later on the night of 16th April. My Great Uncle Harry Gray lost his life in HE475 KW-E that night.
I was building a model kit of KW-E for James Girling and I wanted James to write the story behind it.
The story behind Trumpeter Vickers Wellington Mk X by James Girling
This is how Gary came in with his comment and is instrumental to pay homage to John Maurice LeBlanc. I have no picture of John Maurice LeBlanc but I have now access to his record of service file.
To be continued…
RCAF 425 Alouettes III 