Bordeaux-Mérignac

The airplane suffered an engine failure shortly after takeoff from Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport. The pilot elected to return for an emergency landing when he lost control of the airplane that crashed near the airport. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Aloys Hessling, pilot,
Gefr Werner Pietsch, observer,
Uffz Georg Pauser, radio operator,
Gefr Robert Neuer, air gunner.

While cruising in poor visibility due to bad weather, the four engine airplane impacted the slope of Mt Brandon and crashed. All six crew members were rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
Oblt Kurt H. Mollenhauer,
Obfw Ronald Beumer,
Fw Ludwig Wochner,
Uffz Hans A. Bell,
Gefr Kurt K. W. Kyck,
Dr. Erich Krueger.

The crew departed Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport on a mine laying mission. While approaching the British coast at night, the four engine aircraft was shot down by the British Flak and crashed into the sea off Crimdon. Four crew members were killed and two others were rescued.
Crew (1./KG 40):
Fw Herbert Külken, pilot,
Fw Karl Nicolai, wireless operator,
Fw Willi Meyer, mechanic, †
Hptm Roman Stesszyn, observer, †
Gefr Silverius Zaunig, air gunner, †
Gefr J. Perl, gunner. †

The crew refused to be interned and wanted to continue to fight. As four LeO 45 (n°157, 169, 181 & 190) were parked at Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport, the crew stole one of them to reach the front line. One of the crew took his bicycle with him but as it was not properly stored in the cabin, it shifted rearward upon liftoff, causing the elevator system to be jammed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in a wooded area just past the runway end, bursting into flames. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Paul Michel Jean-Louis André, pilot,
Adj Jean Baptiste Pierre Lucien Chavy, pilot,
Sgt Jean Georges René Cavalié, mechanic.
Passenger:
Asp François Joseph Jean Jacques Ducreuzet.

The pilot was completing a local solo training flight out from Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport. Following a straight-in approach, the pilot initiated a go around procedure when the airplane stalled, contacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located in Saint-Jean-d'Illac, some two km west of the airfield. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
S/Lt Georges Marie Joseph Lapierre, pilot.

The crew was performing a local training sortie our from Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the pilot encountered engine problems. He attempted an emergency landing in a field located in Pessac, east of the airport. Upon touchdown, the aircraft collided with trees and was damaged beyond repair. All five crew were injured, one seriously.
Crew:
Lt Huet, pilot,
Sgt Girardin,
Sgt Dupuch,
Sgt Polassi,
Adj/C Arnaud.