Military

On 17 June 1940, General De Gaulle left France for England but his wife and children were still in Carantec, Brittany. Due to German troops moving through Brittany, De Gaulle obtained help from Winston Churchill who sent a special aircraft to Carantec to pick up De Gaulle's family. After receiving orders from the Government, Captain Norman Hope joined RAF Mount Batten and transmitted to his crew the goal of this high secret mission. On 18 June 1940, the float plane departed RAF Mount Batten, near Portsmouth, at 0300LT. It arrived over Brittany few hours later and while flying 20 km west from Carantec, it was hit by ground fire, either French or German (undetermined). The captain reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a field when the aircraft impacted a rocky wall and crashed, bursting into flames. All four crew were killed. Nobody was aware of this mission and De Gaulle's family embarked on a ship few hours later to join England.
Crew (15th GC):
Cpt Norman Hope,
Lt John Bell,
Sgt Charles Harris,
Cpl Bernard Nowell.

The airplane departed Villeneuve-sur-Lot and was supposed to be transferred to Algeria. It crashed in unknown circumstances upon takeoff. All three crew members evacuated safely while two soldiers (Roger Seillier and Gustave Froideval) staying near the runway were killed.

The twin engine airplane departed Mitchel AFB in Long Island on a local flight, in formation with two other similar aircrafts. While cruising at an altitude of 2,500 feet, the pilot of Bolo registered 37-576 attempted to pass below the two other airplanes when it collided with Bolo registered 37-583. Both aircraft entered a dive and crashed in 239th Street, Queens. All 12 crew members in both aircrafts were killed.

The twin engine airplane departed Mitchel AFB in Long Island on a local flight, in formation with two other similar aircrafts. While cruising at an altitude of 2,500 feet, the pilot attempted to pass below the two other airplanes when it collided with Bolo registered 37-583. Both aircraft entered a dive and crashed in 239th Street, Queens. All 12 crew members in both aircrafts were killed.

Crashed for unknown reasons shortly after takeoff from Mannheim Airport. A crew member was killed and three others were injured.

While flying at a height of about 200 feet, the airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed near Barton Bendish RLG. A crew was killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
P/O E. W. Plumb, †
AC1 Morecock,
AC2 Norman.

Crashed in unknown circumstances near Lille, possibly following an engine failure. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Oblt Peter Grüner,
Fw Adalbert Picking,
Gefr Rolf Hornbogen,
Fw Richard Dowjatow, mechanic,
Gefr Franz Gessner, air gunner.

While on a connection flight, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The pilot did not realize he was flying too low when the aircraft hit telephone wires, stalled and crashed onto a hill, bursting into flames. All crew were seriously injured and the captain died three days later from injuries sustained.
Crew (608th Squadron):
Sgt Leslie Bertram Walpole, †
P/O B. Duncan,
Sgt O. Shepherd,
AC1 George Edward Lumley.

Shortly after a night takeoff from Avord AFB, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. In limited visibility due to mist, it collided with trees and crashed in a wooded area located in Farges-en-Septaine, near the airfield. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/Lt Pierre André Dumon, pilot,
S/Lt Philémon Augustin Léon Dupont, pilot,
Sgt/C Louis Robert Raoul Castelnau, radio operator,
Sgt Pierre Marie Louis Chalte, air gunner.

While returning to RAF Hemswell following a communication mission, the aircraft collided with a balloon barrage cable and crashed near Felixstowe. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/Cdr Joseph John Watts, pilot,
P/O John Frederick Edward Andrews, pilot,
Sgt Alexander Winstanley, wireless operator,
Sgt Ronald Jolly, wireless operator.