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Crash of a Dewoitine D.342 in Ameur el Aïn: 25 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-ARIZ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Paris – Marseille – Algiers – Dakar
MSN:
01
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
Few minutes after take off from Algiers-Maison Blanche Airport, while climbing in good weather conditions bound for Dakar, the three-engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in Ameur el Aïn, west of Blida. All 25 occupants were killed. Most of the passengers were family members (children and spouses) of Air France's employees transferred in Dakar. Among them the wife and the son of the French General Jean Barrau, Chief of French troops based in the French West Africa.
Crew:
Gaston Chenu, pilot,
Robert Arnoult, pilot,
Pierre Casanova, pilot,
Fernand Renier, flight engineer,
André Beaufils, flight engineer,
Albert Jellade, radio navigator,
Robert Haeflinger, barman.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident was not determined. However, the assumption that the accident was caused by the explosion of a bomb was raised. At the time of the accident, the French General Charles Noguès was supposed to take this airplane to Dakar but during the stopover in Algiers, he changed his itinerary and embarked on the Martin 167 of the French General Bergeret bound for Casablanca. His personal stuff were still in the Dewoitine at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-246 off Algiers: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
F-AREJ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Marseille – Algiers
MSN:
3
YOM:
1938
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On a flight from Marseille to Algiers, while overflying the Mediterranean Sea some 80 km from the destination, the seaplane was attacked by the pilots of four RAF Hurricanes. Bullets killed four passengers and the aircraft christened 'Mauritanie' sustained substantial damage. Nevertheless, the captain was able to fly to Algiers and landed safely. But shortly later, the aircraft sunk and was lost. All six other occupants were unhurt.
Crew:
Marceau Méresse, pilot,
Léopold Gimié, radio operator,
Mr. Marie, flight engineer,
Mr. Epper, steward.
Probable cause:
Shot down by RAF fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-07 LodeStar in Port-Étienne

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-ARTL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Toulouse – Alicante – Casablanca – Port-Étienne – Dakar
MSN:
2011
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Port-Étienne Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed near the runway end. All three occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed. The crew was completing a regular mail flight from Toulouse to Dakar.

Crash of a Bloch MB.220 off Marseille: 15 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1941 at 1335 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-AQNL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Marseille – Toulouse
MSN:
12
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Marseille-Marignane Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane named 'Languedoc' suffered an engine failure. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in the pond of Bolmon located about 3 km southwest of the airport. Two passengers were seriously injured and 15 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Robert Ane, pilot,
Daniel Jacomety, radio navigator,
Roger Jeune, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Caudron C.445 Goéland on the Pic d'Estable: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1940 at 1545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-BAAR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Clermont-Ferrand – Toulouse – Perpignan
MSN:
08403/85
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Clermont-Ferrand at 0847LT to Perpignan where the passenger was supposed to proceed with an inspection. A stop was scheduled in Carcassonne to deliver 50 kg of cargo. As the runway at Carcassonne Airport was wet, the crew decided to fly to Toulouse-Francazal Airport where he landed at 1015LT. The airplane took off at 1450LT for the second leg to Perpignan-La Llabanère. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and informed ground about his position over Pamiers at 1545LT then radio contact was lost. As the airplane failed to arrive in Perpignan, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few weeks later as no trace of the airplane nor the crew was found. On 2 December 1949, a park ranger found the wreckage on the north face of Pic d'Estable, near Puilaurens. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Crew:
S/Lt Marcel Henri Wingert, pilot,
Adj/C René Hilaire Kleber Margouet,
Adj Jean Jules Désiré Pater.
Passenger:
Cpt René Pierre Parpiel.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain after the crew encountered limited visibility due to poor weather conditions between Toulouse and Perpignan.

Crash of a Farman NC.223 into the Mediterranean Sea: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1940 at 1205 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-AROA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Marseille – Bizerte – Beirut – Damascus
MSN:
3
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While cruising off Sardinia on a flight to Beyrouth and Damascus via Bizerte, the radio navigator sent a brief message that he was hit by enemy fire. Shortly later, the aircraft named 'Le Verrier' crashed into the sea some 50 km off the Cape Spartivento, south of Sardinia. SAR were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the seven occupants was ever found. At the time of the accident, Italian and British fighters were taking part to a battle in the area.
Crew:
Henri Guillaumet, pilot,
Marcel Reine, copilot,
Jean Le Duff, radio navigator,
Fernand Franques, flight engineer,
Lucien Montaubin. second flight engineer.
Passengers:
Jean Chiappe, High Civil Commissioner of France to Levant (Lebanon and Syria),
Cpt Nicolas.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian or a British fighter.

Crash of a Dewoitine D.338 in Dadjo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-AQBJ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Niamey - Cotonou
MSN:
10
YOM:
1938
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight from Niamey to Cotonou, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The three engine aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located near Dadjo, south of Carnotville. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Paul Perrichon, pilot,
Emile Bossard, radio navigator,
Marcel Locqueneux, flight engineer.

Crash of a Dewoitine D.338 into the Gulf of Tonkin: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-AQBA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
01
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While on a flight from France to southeast Asia, the three engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter. It went out of control and crashed into the Gulf of Tonkin, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
Alfred Lacaze, pilot,
Jean Assolant, copilot,
Francis Pechard, radio navigator,
Pierre Valepyn, engineer.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Dewoitine D.338 in Ouistreham: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-ARTD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
22
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While flying over the region of Caen, the three engine aircraft was mistakenly shot down by the French Flak. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a field located in Ouistreham. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and both pilots were unhurt while the radio navigator André Descamps was killed.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by the French Flak.

Crash of a Bloch MB.220 in Gigondas: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-AOHA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Paris – Lyon – Marseille
MSN:
01
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Paris to Marseille with an intermediate stop in Lyon. While cruising in poor weather conditions over Vaucluse, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Saint-Amand (730 metres high) located in the Dentelles Mountain Range overhanging Gigondas and its vineyards. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Georges Delage, pilot,
Jérôme Nicheletti, radio navigator,
Joseph Terrier, engineer.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following a navigation error on part of the crew.