Bouches-du-Rhône

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Military

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Shortly after takeoff from Salon-de-Provence, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Auguste Marie Gabriel Merceur, pilot,
Adj/C Jean Guarneri, observer,
Sgt/C Hubert Pierre Joquel, mechanic.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451 in Miramas: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1940

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Registration:

3011

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Flight Type:

Bombing

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Saint-Yan - Istres

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While approaching Istres AFB following a bombing mission over Torino, Italy, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Miramas. Three crew members were injured and Cpl/C Jean Pierre Marie Diguet, air gunner, was killed.

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

Date & Time: May 9, 1940 at 1815 LT

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Registration:

L-632

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Istres - Istres

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YOM:

1940

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The airplane was engaged in a local training flight out from Mas de Rus, a temporary satellite runway located about 5 km west of Istres-Le Tubé AFB. Immediately after liftoff, the airplane stalled and crashed, killing both crew members.
Crew:
Lt Col Charles Berthelon, Chief,
Adj Denis André Guiral, pilot.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a premature liftoff.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451B4 in Salon-de-Provence: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1940 at 2120 LT

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Registration:

L-568

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Flight Type:

Military

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Salon-de-Provence - Salon-de-Provence

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YOM:

1939

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The crew departed Salon-de-Provence on a local night bombing exercice on the field of Quatre-Termes. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 300-400 metres, the pilot initiated a left turn when the airplane entered stratus. Fort unknown reasons, the pilot continued to turn and completed a circle when the airplane went out of clouds at a height of 200 metres. Then the pilot attempted to regain control but the airplane slid on its left side and continued to descend at a speed of 500 km/h until it impacted the ground southeast of the airbase. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all four occupants were killed.
Crew:
S/Lt Raoul Pongnot, pilot,
Lt Gaston Denis, chief,
Cpl/C Lucien Lalloz, radio operator.
Passenger:
Lt Col Alfred d'Arnaud de Vitrolles.

Probable cause:

Loss of control for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Potez 25 in Marseille

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1940 at 1520 LT

Type of aircraft:

Potez 25

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Registration:

1245

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1245

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After completing a towing exercice between Fos-sur-Mer and Berre-l’Étang, the crew was returning to Marseille. After touchdown at Marseille-Marignane Airport, the airplane was caught by a strong gust of wind and came to rest upside down. The gunner was injured while the pilot was unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
Sgt Edmond Morel, pilot,
Adj Adrien Jacob, gunner.

Probable cause:

The airplane crashed upside down after landing after being caught by a strong gust of wind.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451 in Le Sambuc: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1940 at 0130 LT

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Registration:

L-553

Flight Phase:

Flight

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Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Salon-de-Provence - Salon-de-Provence

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YOM:

1939

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The twin engine airplane departed Salon-de-Provence Airbase at 0043LT on a local training exercice, carrying five crew members. Weather was misty without moon. After completing several circuits over the airfield, the airplane continued to the south at an altitude of 1,000 metres. In unknown circumstances, the airplane went out of control and crashed inverted in an open field located in Le Sambuc, some 18 km west of Istres-Le Tubé AFB, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cne Georges Geerts, Chief,
Adj/c Jean Villemot, pilot,
Lt Claude Wemaere, navigator,
Adj/C Marie-Joseph Vogel, radio operator,
Adj Charles Hanotel, gunner.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. It is believed that the airplane caught fire in flight.

Crash of a Caudron C.445 Goéland at Salon-de-Provence AFB

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1940 at 1445 LT

Type of aircraft:

Caudron C.440 Goéland

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Registration:

T-950

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Salon-de-Provence - Salon-de-Provence

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The crew was completing a local training flight at Salon-de-Provence AFB. While circling in the vicinity of the airbase, the pilot-in-command misused the propeller pitch system and decided to return for landing. On short final, due to an insufficient speed, the airplane stalled and crashed in a field located one km from the runway threshold. The aircraft broke in three and was destroyed. Both crew members were injured.
Crew:
Adj/C Guy Tesson, pilot,
Sdt Miguel Olsina, mechanic.

Probable cause:

Stall on approach following a misuse of the propeller pitch system.

Crash of a Caudron C.445M Goéland at Istres AFB

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1940 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Caudron C.440 Goéland

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Registration:

T-908

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Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-242

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Istres - Istres

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The crew departed Istres-Le Tubé on a local training flight. On final approach, the instructor regained control and initiated a sharp turn to join the runway. Doing so, one of the wing impacted the ground and the aircraft crashed. All three crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Sgt/C Pradel, instructor,
Sgt Gayde, pilot,
Sgt Daubigné, pilot.

Probable cause:

The pilot under instruction was not properly aligned with the runway. Thus, the instructor regained control and initiated a sharp turn, causing the airplane to struck the ground and to crash. Obviously, this manoeuvre was not compliant. Poor judgement.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-242/1 off Marseille: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1938 at 0730 LT

Type of aircraft:

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Registration:

F-ANPB

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

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