Flt Lt Andrew Lebon, died in an air crash, while in 35 Sqn -Pune in the early 60's. He was No. 2 to Flt Lt MM Takle, when they entered cloud; he lost contact with Takle and probably got disorientated and crashed. His wife,Melba Lebon, settled in Agra Cant & recently celebrated her 80th birthday. Surprisingly, not too many knew of her existence in Agra, the Ground Zero of Canberra Operations. Takle also died in a canberra accident a few years later.

The families of Flt Lt & Mrs Lebon interestingly all have Air force connections

Bosco Lebon :Brother, Tx from Fly Br to Lgs, settled in Australia
Peter Pinto :Brother in law, Ex Pkts, An 12 & IL 76 married to Melba's sis, settled in Goa
Arun Bannerji :B-i-L, Ex Pkts married to another sis, disappeared under mysterious circumstances while on a train journey in 1989.
John D'Silva : Melba's brother, Ex Choppers settled in Australia

ABOUT ANDREW LE BON
Born: Rangoon, Burma 
Died; 07thJuly 1962

Studied:
· KG: Pre-WWII: St Paul’s Rangoon
· 1945: Simla, India- Junior School(?):
· 1946: St Bede’s, Tanjore, India - Junior School
· 1947- 1949: St Paul’s Rangoon - Middle School
· 1950: Clarence High School, Bangalore, India - Bangalore European High School & Senior Cambridge Examinations – Passed I Class
· 1951- 1954: St Joseph’s College, Bangalore, India – Bachelor of Science
· 1955: No 1 Air Force Flying College, Begumpet, India: 65 GDP (?); reflighted due to Hernia operation
· 1956: No 2 Air Force Flying College, Jodhpur, India; 66 GDP - Commissioned as Pilot Officer
· 1957 – 1962: Posted to:
o Dakota Squadrons: Barrackpore, Jamnagar
o Jet Bomber Conversion Unit, Agra, India
o No 35 Squadron, Poona, India

QUIET ACHIEVER

Studies: Clever – lost a year due to being bedridden in Rangoon 1947 due to rheumatism
Sports: Won Discus 1st Prize at Discus Throw in Clarence HS when in Standard 9: final year
Sociable: Popular with friends in Bangalore and IAF: Dancing, Cards …

His life during and after WWII:

Rangoon railways was bombed by the Japanese right in front of his parents 4th story flat. The family spent the days and nights in the underground shelter constructed by removing the pavement slaps. They survived with basic food and water. Andrew and his 2 younger siblings watched the night raids with great excitement, and were enthralled with the search lights and Ack Ack fire engaging the attackers.
Service number : 5036
Date of Commission : 14-01-1956
First Posting Number : 4 WING , KHERIA , AGRA.
Subsequent Posting : AIRFORCE STN BARRACKPORE , 1956
ATW JAMAGAR , 1958
JBCU ( Training on Cnberras) , 1960
35 Sqdn PUNE , 1961
Memorable incidents : Landed on a dry-river bed between Gujarat & W.Pakistan to rescue a pilot who had crashlanded/bailed out in 1958/59 
Date of Crash : 07-07-1962
Place of Burial : Hadapsar , PUNE
Family : Wife - MELBA LEBON
Son - ANDREW LEBON (then 2 and a half yrs)
Son - MICHAEL LEBON (then 3 months old)
Brother - BOSCO LEBON (now in MELBOURNE , AUSTRALIA)

Wife and children now relocated to 6, The Mall , Agra Cannt.
No Resettlement Grant except for death Gratuity of Rs 2,200.
Pension of Rs 160 per month and Rs 30/- per child till the age of 18 years.
Andrew Lebon - Eldest son at 6, The Mall , Agra Cantt.
Michael Lebon - Younger son at Melbourne , Australia.

Bosco Lebon

12 Course JSW, Dehra Dun JUN 1954 > Closed down and Shifted to NDA Kadakavasla, Poona JAN 1955
72 GDP, No 1 Flying College, Begumpet, Secunderabad JUN 1956 > Closed down and Shifted to No 2 Flying College, Jodhpur JAN 1957
17 GDOC, Coimbatore JUN 1958 - Commissioned 31 MAY 1959 in EQPT Branch (Later LOGISTICS)

MIGRATED TO MELBOURNE NOV 1985

Mrs Melba Lebon may be reached on <contact webmaster>

Inputs courtesy Vivian S'Goody' Goodwin & the members of the extended Lebon family