Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 45 (451-459)

The crew departed Lézignan-Corbières on a local test flight. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 200 metres with the undercarriage retracted, the airplane entered a left turn then rolled left to an angle of 45° when control was lost. The aircraft crashed in a field located 1,500 metres past the runway end, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed.
Crew:
Adj Laurent Pochard, pilot,
Adj Robert Doideau, pilot,
Sgt/C André Deguil, mechanic,
Lt Pierre Gillet, Chief.

The crew departed Salon-de-Provence on a local night bombing exercice on the field of Quatre-Termes. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 300-400 metres, the pilot initiated a left turn when the airplane entered stratus. Fort unknown reasons, the pilot continued to turn and completed a circle when the airplane went out of clouds at a height of 200 metres. Then the pilot attempted to regain control but the airplane slid on its left side and continued to descend at a speed of 500 km/h until it impacted the ground southeast of the airbase. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all four occupants were killed.
Crew:
S/Lt Raoul Pongnot, pilot,
Lt Gaston Denis, chief,
Cpl/C Lucien Lalloz, radio operator.
Passenger:
Lt Col Alfred d'Arnaud de Vitrolles.

The airplane departed Nantes Airport on an endurance mission on behalf of the Société Nationale de Construction Aéronautique de l’Ouest (SNCAO), carrying five crew members. Few minutes after takeoff, a blue smoke spread in the cabin and a fire erupted, coming apparently from a tank in the rear of the airplane. The captain decided to return for an emergency landing. On final, at an altitude of 200 metres, one of the crew member was able to bail out when the aircraft nosed down and crashed in a field located one km from the runway, bursting into flames. The crew who bailed out was slightly injured while four other occupants were killed, among them three engineers from SNCAO.
Crew:
Mr. Charles Bollon de Clavière, pilot, †
Mr. Gabriel Monteau, mechanic, †
Mr. André Dufour, mechanic, †
Sgt Louis Porchaire, radio operator, †
Sgt/C Goblet.

The twin engine airplane departed Salon-de-Provence Airbase at 0043LT on a local training exercice, carrying five crew members. Weather was misty without moon. After completing several circuits over the airfield, the airplane continued to the south at an altitude of 1,000 metres. In unknown circumstances, the airplane went out of control and crashed inverted in an open field located in Le Sambuc, some 18 km west of Istres-Le Tubé AFB, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cne Georges Geerts, Chief,
Adj/c Jean Villemot, pilot,
Lt Claude Wemaere, navigator,
Adj/C Marie-Joseph Vogel, radio operator,
Adj Charles Hanotel, gunner.

During the takeoff roll, at a speed of 70 km/h, the tail wheel lifted off when the airplane deviated 10° to the right. The crew attempted to correct this deviation but the aircraft veered off runway and eventually collided with a parked Bloch MB.210. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Cdt Jacques Leclerc de la Herverie, pilot, †
Sgt Pierre Beuvin, radio operator,
Sgt Michel Rozoy, mechanic,
S/Lt Emile Borgniet, navigator. †

Crashed for unknown reasons while taking off from Connantre Airport. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all four crew members evacuated safely.
Crew:
Adj Maurice Magnan, pilot,
S/Lt Pierre Chaboureau, chief,
Sgt/C Castilla,
Adj/C Flamand.

The airplane departed Connantre Airport on a reconnaissance mission over Munich and Nurnberg, carrying four crew members. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 40 metres, the right engine failed while the undercarriage were not fully retracted. The captain decided to return for an emergency landing. Upon touchdown, the airplane landed hard, broke in two and came to rest. Three crew members were seriously injured while a fourth was unhurt.
Crew:
Adj/C Regnoux, pilot,
Cdt Bernard Dumas, chief,
Sgt/C Georges Castela, radio operator,
Adj André Perrigouard, gunner.