Béchar

The aircraft was engaged in a troop transport from Boufarik to Tindouf with an intermediate stop in Béchar, west Algeria, and was carrying 247 soldiers and their family members and 10 crew members. Shortly after takeoff from the Boufarik AFB located some 25 km southwest of Algiers, while climbing to a height of about 150 meters, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an agricultural zone located near the airport, bursting into flames. The airplane was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. It was quickly confirmed by the Algerian Authorities that none of the 257 occupants survived the crash, among them 26 members of the Front Polisario. According to first testimonies, it appears that the left wing (engine?) was on fire when control was lost.

On approach to Béchar Airport by night, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed in a desert area located about 15 km from the runway threshold. 14 passengers were killed while nine other occupants, among them all three crew members, were injured.

En route from Colomb-Béchar to Algiers, the single engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located in the Djebel Doui, south of Aïn Defla. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed. The flight was operated on behalf of the Aviation Légère de l’Armée de Terre (ALAT).

While on a flight from Algiers to Colomb-Béchar, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Molière (today Bordj Bounaama). The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 15 occupants have been killed.
Crew:
Mr. Yasoni, pilot,
Mr. Vincent, radio operator,
Mr. Brillant, mechanic.

The aircraft christened 'Tailly 2' left Oran at 1015LT in marginal weather conditions. Enroute, due to sandstorm, the captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground. Twice, the crew informed ground that his ETA in Colomb-Béchar was delayed about fifteen minutes. While descending at a too low altitude, the twin engine aircraft hit the ground near a railroad and crashed in a huge explosion about 56 km north of Colomb-Béchar. All thirteen occupants were killed, among them the French General Philippe Leclerc. Thirteen bodies were recovered and evacuated to France, but only twelve of them were identified. A thirteenth occupant, wearing a French Army uniform with the grade of Lieutenant was recovered but unidentified.
Crew:
Lt François-René Delluc, pilot,
Lt André-René Pilleboue, navigator,
Adj Jean Guillou, mechanic,
Sgt Eugène Lamotte, radio operator.
Passengers:
Gen Philippe Leclerc,
Col Théodore Fieschi,
Col Charles Clémentin,
Col Louis du Garreau de la Méchenie,
Col Paul Fouchet,
Cpt Georges Frichement,
Cdt Michel Meyrrand,
S/Lt Robert Miron de L'Espinay.

The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Beni Belaïd. The crew fate remains unknown.

The airplane departed Colomb-Béchar at 1510LT on the leg to Oran. On approach to Oran-Es Senia Airport, while flying at a height of some 2,500 feet below the clouds, the three engine aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed some 10 km short of runway. The airplane was totally destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Marcel Liedts, pilot,
Auguste Closset, copilot,
Roger Maerschalk, radio operator,
René Verfaillie, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Mrs. Gueldoof,
Mr. Bossaert,
Mr. Thommes,
Mr. & Mrs. Dieudonné,
Mr. Pirsoul,
Mr. Gullmin +1.