Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m off Tarfaya: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
22-94
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tan-Tan – Tarfaya
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While approaching Tarfaya Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and was unable to locate the airfield. Control was lost and the airplane crashed into the ocean off Cape Juby. A crew member was rescued while 10 other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111 on the Mt Leoganger: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bad Wörishofen - Bad Wörishofen
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While flying in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Leoganger located 17 km north-northwest of Zell Am See. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1939 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L1246
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
8529
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Paris-Orly Airport, while climbing, the airplane suffered an engine failure. It lost height and crashed into the Seine in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Stanley John Farmer, pilot,
F/Sgt Frederick Samuel Bowden, observer,
LAC Ivor Robert William Partlow, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Potez 25 in Mandinelli: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1939 at 1055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Toulouse - Toulouse
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Toulouse-Francazal Airport on a gunnery practice exercice with a Bloch MB.200. At an altitude of 1,500 metres, while the exercice was almost finished, the Bloch MB.200 was initiating a last turn when it collided with the Potez 25 that was supposed to simulate the attack. Both airplane dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. All seven occupants in both aircraft were killed. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were good.
Crew:
Sgt Jaroslav Krizek.

Crash of a Bloch MB.200 in Mandinelli: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1939 at 1055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Toulouse - Toulouse
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Toulouse-Francazal Airport on a gunnery practice exercice, carrying six crew members. At an altitude of 1,500 metres, while the exercice was almost finished, the airplane was initiating a last turn when it collided with the Potez 25 that was supposed to simulate the attack. Both airplane dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. All seven occupants in both aircraft were killed. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were good.
Crew:
Lt Paul Philippe, pilot,
Lt Martin,
S/Lt Philippe Chambon,
S/Lt Claude Cheneval,
S/Lt François Guillemin,
Cpl/C René Mouret.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF at RAF Harwell: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1939 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L1286
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Harwell – Croydon
MSN:
8569
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from RAF Harwell, the pilot entered clouds when he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in Folly Farm. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
P/O William Ronald Ross, pilot.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451B4 in Caen: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1939 at 1445 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L-537
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Caen - Oerange
MSN:
1
YOM:
1939
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
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. †

Crash of a Heinkel He.70 in Garz

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing following an engine failure. The airplane crashed in a pasture located near Garz. Both crew members were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Bouxurulles: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1939
Operator:
Registration:
N1364
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Villeneuve-les-Vertus - Villeneuve-les-Vertus
MSN:
1528
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to his base in Villeneuve-les-Vertus following a leaflets dropping mission over Frankfurt. En route, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located in Bouxurulles, 6 km southwest of Charmes. All five crewmen were killed.
Crew:
S/L James Aldo Bartlett, pilot,
Sgt Richard Walsh, pilot,
AC1 Harry Laybourne, wireless operator and gunner,
AC1 Harry Taylor, wireless operator and gunner,
Sgt Charles Thomas, observer.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 near Lastras de Cuéllar: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1939 at 1140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
21-52
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Valladolid – Palma de Mallorca
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Valladolid-Villanubla Airport on a flight to Palma de Mallorca, carrying five crew members and seven passengers who were supposed to take delivery of several aircraft intended for the 26th Fighting Group of León. While cruising at an altitude of 3,200 metres and at a speed of 220 km/h, the crew realized that big clouds were in formation and attempted to avoid passing through. Nevertheless, the airplane entered a big cloud when control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and reached the speed of 400 km/h when the captain ordered the crew to bail out. Four occupants were able to abandon the airplane that crashed in a huge explosion in Los Porretales, some seven km southeast of Lastras de Cuéllar. Eight other people were killed in the accident.
Crew:
Lt Miguel Angel Sanz Martín, pilot,
Lt Francisco Bacariza, pilot,
Lt José Madruga López, observer, †
Cpl José Girones, mechanic,
Cpl Fernando Sánchez, radio operator. †
Passengers:
Lt Santiago de la Cuesta Sáez, †
Lt José Luis Plana Barrios, †
Lt Andrés Vicente Izquierdo, †
Lt Alfonso Ponce Manera, †
Lt Ignacio Alfaro Arregui,
Ens Francisco Ramírez Muñoz, †
Cpl Antonio Vidal Font. †