Country
Belgium
code

West Flanders

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Kezelberg: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1940 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8734
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Watton - Watton
Location:
Kezelberg
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Watton at 1530LT on a bombing mission over Lys. En route, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Kezelberg. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Harold Rowson, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Knightley Roland Keates, observer,
LAC Donald Vincent Cleaver, Wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111 in Torhout: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Heinkel He.111
Operator:
Registration:
5J+FA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Quakenbrück - Quakenbrück
Location:
Torhout
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a combat sortie from the Quakenbrück airfield in Lower Saxony. While flying over Belgium, the crew was attacked by few Curtiss Hawk 75 from the French First Squadron of the Fighter Group 1/4 based in Norrent-Fontes. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing but the aircraft crashed near Torhout. While the captain was injured, all three other crewmen were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by French fighters.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Waregem

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L1148
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Rosieres-en-Santerre - Rosieres-en-Santerre
MSN:
8431
YOM:
1938
Location:
Waregem
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a reconnaissance mission, the crew became lost and the pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in Waregem. All three occupants were uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt A. W. Gillmore, pilot,
Sgt B. R. Turnnidge, observer,
AC1 T. J. Jervis, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge in Ostend: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1937 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AUB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Munich – Frankfurt – Brussels – London
MSN:
5827
YOM:
1937
Location:
Ostend
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While descending to Brussels, the crew encountered foggy conditions and decided to divert to Ostend where two other passengers were supposed to embark. Upon arrival, the crew completed two circuits over the airport of Ostend before initiating the final approach. Weather conditions were poor with limited visibility due to fog. On final, at a height of some 20 metres, the aircraft hit with its right wing the chimney of the 'Briqueterie Nationale' located in Stene. The aircraft stalled and crashed upside down, bursting into flames. All 11 occupants were killed, among them Grand Ducal and Duchess of Hesse and two of their children.
Crew:
Antoine Lambotte, pilot,
Maurice Courtois, radio navigator,
Ivan Lansmans, engineer.
Passengers:
Georges-Donatus von Hesse-Darmstadt, Grand-Ducal of Hesse,
Cécile de Grèce, Grand Duchess of Hesse,
Éléonore von Solms-Hohensolms-Lich,
Louis von Hesse-Darmstadt,
Alexander von Hesse-Darmstadt,
Joachim Riedesel zu Eisenbach,
Arthur Martens,
Lina Hahn.
Probable cause:
An airport employee was blamed for not adequately assisting the pilot down in the conditions of poor visibility, even though rockets had been fired from the ground in an attempt to do so.

Crash of a Breguet 19 in Ostend

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Breguet 19
Operator:
Registration:
B-42
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Ostend
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Ostend-Stene Airport, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The airplane crash landed in a field, collided with a ditch and came to rest. Both occupants evacuated safely.

Crash of a Breguet 19 in Courtrai

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Breguet 19
Operator:
Registration:
B-124
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Courtrai - Courtrai
Location:
Courtrai-Wevelgem
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Courtrai-Wevelgem on a local solo training flight. The engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed and the pilot was injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of an Avro 618 Ten in Ruiselede: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1933 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 618 Ten
Operator:
Registration:
G-ABLU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cologne - Brussels - Croydon
MSN:
528
YOM:
1931
Location:
Ruiselede
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was completing an international schedule service from Cologne to Croydon with an intermediate stop in Brussels. The aircraft departed Brussels-Haren Airport at 1220LT with eight passengers and two crew members on board. While overflying the West Flanders, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Apparently lost, the crew deviated from the prescribed flight path by 15 km when the captain decided to reduce his altitude to establish a visual contact with the ground. At a height of about 250 feet, the airplane collided with a 270 metres high radio antenna. Upon impact, the right wing was torn off and the airplane crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. All 10 occupants were killed, among them seven British, two Dutch and one Polish.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.154 Argosy II in Diksmuide: 15 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1933 at 1425 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.154 Argosy
Operator:
Registration:
G-AACI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cologne – Bruxelles – Croydon
MSN:
AW.363
YOM:
1928
Location:
Diksmuide
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Captain / Total flying hours:
4000
Circumstances:
Named 'City of Liverpool', the aircraft departed Brussels-Haren Airport at 1336LT, about 30 minutes beyond schedule. It passed over Gent at 1400LT and was approaching Roeselare. While cruising at an altitude of 4,300 feet and at a speed of 95 knots, the radio navigator informed ATC that all was OK on board. Few minutes later, an intense fire broke out in the cabin. Immediately, the pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. But from a height of some 200 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a flat attitude in an open field, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and all 15 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Investigations revealed that no technical failure occurred on wings or engines. A quick and violent fire broke out in the cabin, maybe in a luggage or in the toilet compartment for reasons that could not be determined. The fire was very intensive as no one in the cabin was able to use the fire extinguisher. Investigators thought about a criminal act but Imperial Airways declared few months later that the responsibility of any of the passenger could not be proven.

Crash of a Breguet 19 in Courtrai: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Breguet 19
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Courtrai - Goetsenhoven
Location:
Courtrai-Wevelgem
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances shortly after takeoff from Courtrai-Wevelgem Airport. Both pilots Justin Denis Patron and René Eulalie van Boogaert were killed.

Crash of a Sabca F7b/3m in Melle: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1931 at 2345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Sabca F7
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AIL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brussels - Croydon
Location:
Melle
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night mail flight from Brussels to Croydon and departed Brussels-Haren Airport at 2327LT. Some 15 minutes later, the crew encountered foggy conditions and decided to return to Brussels after he contacted his base. Apparently to maintain a visual contact with the ground, the pilot reduced his altitude when the right wing hit the ground. The aircraft crashed in a field and was destroyed. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Gabriel Dery, pilot,
Pierre De Ceuster, flight engineer.
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