John Allsrin De Bell was born in 1922, in Michigan. He served in the 587th Bomber Squadron, 394th Bomber Group, Medium, as a Flight Officer and Bombardier of B-26 Marauder #42-96086 nicknamed “Purgatory,” based at Station No. 161, Boreham Airfield, Essex, England, during World War II.

On April 21, 1944, Martin B-26B Marauder 42-96086, nicknamed ''Purgatory'' took off from Station 161 Boreham Airfield in Essex, England, on a mission to the Bois d’Esquerdes V-1 site in France. At around 11:37 A.M., the aircraft was hit by flak near the cockpit over Bayenghem-lès-Seninghem, about 10 km south of St. Omer in the Pas-de-Calais region. The plane crashed in fields near the village, and although an attempt was made to abandon the aircraft, only part of the evacuation was successful. Three crew members were killed in the crash, while the other three survived, were captured, and held as POWs, later liberated and returned to the United States.

FO De Bell was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net