Biarritz

The twin engine airplane departed Biarritz-Parme Airport on a flight to Bilbao, carrying three passengers and two crew members. While cruising over the Basque County, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a Spanish Nationalist Forces fighter and the engines were struck by bullets. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed on a beach located in Sopelana, about 12 km northwest of Bilbao Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were injured.

The crew was on his way from Croydon to Madrid with an intermediate stop in Biarritz to deliver the aircraft to the Spanish Air Force (Aviación Nacional). On approach to Biarritz-Parme Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions and initiated a go around. While trying to get height, the three engine airplane stalled and crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. Both crew members were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. It is not clear if the crew was attempting a first, a second or a third approach when the accident occurred. It is also possible that the aircraft was struck by lightning as the weather conditions were poor at the time of the accident.
Crew:
Jan Kazimierz Franciszek Lasocki, pilot,
Mr. Morawski.

The single engine airplane departed Paris-Orly on a private flight to Biarritz, carrying three passengers and one pilot. En route, he encountered various technical problems and this brand new aircraft that had just been delivered. While approaching Biarritz, he encountered an unexpected situation and abandoned the aircraft that crashed near a wooded area located in Le Penon, some 28 km north of Biarritz. The pilot was found uninjured while all three passengers were killed.
Crew:
Henri Gelley, pilot.
Passengers:
André Chalaux,
Maurice Dubois
Louis Pluquet.