Crash of a Cessna 402A in Le Pin-la-Garenne: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1970 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Avia-Taxi
Registration:
F-BPJA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saint-Nazaire - Paris
MSN:
402-0100
YOM:
1967
Location:
Le Pin-la-Garenne
Orne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was returning to Paris-Le Bourget on a taxi flight, carrying nine industrialists based in Paris. Just passing over Alençon, the pilot encountered very bad weather conditions with heavy snow falls and icing conditions. He informed ATC about technical problems, stated he was unable to maintain control and requested assistance to divert to the nearest airport. Less than a minute later, the airplane struck a tree and crashed in a field located just outside Le Pin-la-Garenne. The airplane was totally destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by an excessive accumulation of ice on wings and fuselage. Probable engine problems due to carburetor icing. Very bad weather conditions.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-4 off Saint-Nazaire: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.88
Operator:
Registration:
M2+AH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1660
Location:
Saint-Nazaire
Loire-Atlantique
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane is believed to have been shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off Saint-Nazaire. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Ofw Karl Essau, pilot,
Gefr Gerhard Kendel, observer,
Ogefr Heinrich Steins, radio operator,
Uffz Heinz Stahm, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-4 off Saint-Nazaire: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.88
Operator:
Registration:
M2+MK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
8514
Location:
Saint-Nazaire
Loire-Atlantique
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising off Saint-Nazaire, the airplane was shot down by a British fighter and crashed into the sea, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
Oblt Raymund Scheelke, pilot,
Ogefr Ewald Hummert, observer,
Uffz Rainer Andersen, radio operator,
Uffz Walter Zischler, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I off Saint-Nazaire: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 152 Beaufort
Operator:
Registration:
L9793
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Saint Eval - Saint Eval
MSN:
8953
YOM:
1940
Location:
Saint-Nazaire
Loire-Atlantique
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF St Eval at 1605LT on a gardening operation off Saint-Nazaire. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. The observer was killed and three other occupants became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Richard Marklew Iliff, pilot,
Sgt Herbert Smith, observer, †
Sgt Arthur John Tonkin, wireless operator,
W/O Cyril Garfield Meader, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I off Saint-Nazaire: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 152 Beaufort
Operator:
Registration:
W6501
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Saint Eval - Saint Eval
MSN:
9506
YOM:
1940
Location:
Saint-Nazaire
Loire-Atlantique
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF St Eval at 1824LT on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. It crashed into the sea or off Saint-Nazaire or in the Bay of Bourgneuf. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Walter Samuel Palfrey Griffiths, pilot,
Sgt Selwyn Clifford Edwin Sapwell, observer,
Sgt Edward Dix Suggett, radio operator,
Sgt Joseph Walter Ball, air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I off Saint-Nazaire: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 152 Beaufort
Operator:
Registration:
N1041
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Saint Eval - Saint Eval
MSN:
9128
YOM:
1940
Location:
Saint-Nazaire
Loire-Atlantique
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF St Eval at 1445LT on a maritime patrol flight. While cruising along the French coast, it was shot down by the German Marine Flak and crashed into the sea off saint-Nazaire. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Peter Francis Ralph Graham,
Sgt Ralph Marshall,
P/O John Allan Vesey Stockley, observer,
Sgt Edgar Allen Clutton Williams.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Marine Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I off Saint-Nazaire: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 152 Beaufort
Operator:
Registration:
AW189
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Saint Eval - Saint Eval
MSN:
9896
YOM:
1941
Location:
Saint-Nazaire
Loire-Atlantique
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF St Eval at 2015LT to attack ships in the harbor of St Nazaire. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
crew:
F/Lt Thomas Francis Kerr, pilot,
Sgt Allan Douglas Scott, observer,
Sgt Alec Windle, wireless operator,
F/O Eric Charles Whitehead, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Saint-Nazaire: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V6430
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Portreath - Portreath
Location:
Saint-Nazaire
Loire-Atlantique
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Portreath at 0807LT on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
crew:
S/L George Stephen King, pilot,
Sgt Joseph Eckersley Austen-Johnson, observer,
Sgt Denison Owen, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Saint-Nazaire

Date & Time: May 13, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
V5997
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Portreath - Portreath
Location:
Saint-Nazaire
Loire-Atlantique
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Portreath at 0811LT on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. Approaching the target, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Frank Henry Miller, pilot,
Sgt Norman Joseph Ingram, observer,
Sgt William Eric Whiteman, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.
Subscribe to Saint-Nazaire