Country
France
code

Aisne

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Beaurevoir: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1940 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L9187
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Méharicourt - Méharicourt
Location:
Beaurevoir
Aisne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crash landed between Gouy and Beaurevoir after being shot down by the pilot of a Me.109. A crewman was killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
P/O James Roger Whelan, pilot,
Sgt Thomas John Mongey, observer, †
LAC Brown, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451 in Raillimont: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1940 at 0730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 45 (451-459)
Operator:
Registration:
L-590
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
La Ferté-Gaucher - La Ferté-Gaucher
MSN:
54
YOM:
1939
Location:
Raillimont
Aisne
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 La Ferté-Gaucher to attack enemy troops based in the sector of Liart. It was shot down by Flak and crashed into a house. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt/C André Marcel Edouard Masset, pilot,
S/Lt Alfred Charles André Devalez, Chief,
Sgt Maurice Buisson, radio operator,
Sgt/C Jean Pierre Joseph Moity, air gunner.
Probable cause:
shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451 in Amifontaine

Date & Time: May 16, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 45 (451-459)
Operator:
Registration:
L-563
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Roye - Roye
MSN:
27
YOM:
1939
Location:
Amifontaine
Aisne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Roye Airfield to attack a German column moving on a road in Montcornet. After being shot down by Flak over Juvincourt, the crew bailed out and abandoned the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a field. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were slightly injured.
Crew:
Cpt Robert Henri Hirsch, pilot,
S/Lt Louis Raoul, observer,
Adj/C André Perrigouard, radio operator,
Sgt/C René Lucien Mériguet, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451 in Bosmont-sur-Serre: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 45 (451-459)
Operator:
Registration:
L-641
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Soissons - Soissons
MSN:
105
YOM:
1940
Location:
Bosmont-sur-Serre
Aisne
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 Soissons on a bombing mission. After being hit by Flak, the pilot attempted an emergency landing with one engine on fire when the airplane crashed in a field. A crew member was killed and three others were injured.
Crew:
Adj/C Cherigie, pilot,
S/Lt Lemaire, Chief,
Sgt/C Henri Etienne Pironneau, radio operator, †
Cpl/C Fourrier, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451 in Soissons

Date & Time: May 11, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 45 (451-459)
Operator:
Registration:
L-599
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Soissons - Soissons
MSN:
63
YOM:
1939
Location:
Soissons
Aisne
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 Soissons on a bombing mission over Maastricht. After being shot by enemy fire, two crew members bailed out and the pilot was able to continue and to return to Soissons-Saconin Airfield. Severely damaged, the aircraft crashed upon landing and was irreparable. The pilot was slightly injured and both other occupants became PoW.
Crew:
Adj Henry Chamaud, pilot,
Lt Jean Grandremy, pilot,
Sgt/C Ritz, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Damaged by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bloch MB.131 in La Fère-Courbes: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1939 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bloch MB.131
Operator:
Registration:
L-377
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
La Fère-Courbes - La Fère-Courbes
MSN:
122
YOM:
1938
Location:
La Fère-Courbes
Aisne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed La Fère-Courbes Aerodrome at 1020LT on a reconnaissance mission over La Capelle. While cruising at an altitude of 2,800 metres, the airplane was attacked by the pilot of two French Morane 406. The pilot reduced his altitude and elected to return to his base. On final approach to La Fère-Courbes, he lost control of the airplane that nosed down and crashed in a field located one km short of runway, bursting into flames. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Lt Louis Pierrat, pilot,
Sgt Pierre Jean Clémenceau, radio operator, †
Cne Pierre Louis Maurice Laurent, observer, †
Adj Paul Loussalez-Artets, gunner.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by two French fighter. It was determined that the pilots of the French fighters confused the Bloch MB.131 with a Heinkel He.111.

Crash of a Potez 540-B5 in Laon

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1939 at 2017 LT
Type of aircraft:
Potez 540
Operator:
Registration:
X-289
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Laon - Laon
MSN:
160
YOM:
1936
Location:
Laon-Couvron
Aisne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a local training flight at Laon-Couvron Airfield. On final approach, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low. The airplane impacted an embankment located short of runway, causing the undercarriage to be torn off. The aircraft continued for about 70 metres then belly landed and came to rest. All five crewmen were rescued, among them two were injured.
Crew:
Adj/C Adrien Cathala, pilot,
Adj/C Matignon, gunner,
Sgt/C Epenoy, gunner,
Lt Genay, observer,
Cne Hoquetis, Chief.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to a pilot error. Nevertheless, it was considered that the runway was not equipped with lights and the pilot may have been hampered by the luminosity caused by the low position of the moon.
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