A few years before[World War II, two of Albert's sons, Raymond and Paul, were elected to take control of the family business. After the Battle of Belgium, the family Libeert closed the factory, as they refused to manufacture military equipment for the German army. Once Belgium was liberated, there was an increasing shortage of flax. A new organization, the "Association of Linen Producers" had to collect the flax yarns and distribute the flax yarn to its members, about 35 linen weavers. Raymond Libeert was elected president of the organization. Because of the market potential at that time for linen weavers the United States, Raymond wanted to go to New York to open a sales outlet. Raymond and his wife Renée took the plane from Brussels to New York on 17 September 1946. However, due to bad weather conditions the airplane crashed about 30 kilometers from Gander International Airport in Newfoundland, Canada.