Dale Livingston Lasselle

Captain Dale Livingston Lasselle (O-362264) served in 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group (The Ragged Irregulars), 8th United States Army Air Force during the Second World War. He was born on 12th April 1915 in Albany, Multnomah County, Oregon, U.S.A.

In civilian life, Dale attended Grant High School, Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. There, he was a successful athlete and football player. He later played half-back for the University of Oregon Ducks between 1936 and 1939. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Force and trained at Randolph Field and Kelly Field, Texas, U.S.A. Later, while based at McDill Field, Tampa, Florida, U.S.A., he met and married Jane Lea.

Lasselle died on 3rd October 1942 while serving as a co-pilot on B-17 #41-24451. The plane crashed in bad weather on Mount Slieveanorra, Co. Antrim en route from Gander Bay, Newfoundland to the United Kingdom killing 8 of the 10 crew and passengers. Some reports suggest the plane was bound for Prestwick, Scotland while others state the destination as R.A.F. Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, England.

Burial first took place on 7th October 1942 at Glenalina Extension, ES, 229 of Belfast City Cemetery. A reburial later took place at Lisnabreeny American Military Cemetery, Belfast. After the war, Lasselle was repatriated to Finley-Sunset Hills Memorial Park, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, U.S.A.