Transport Aérien Militaire (TAM) | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft was on its way from Antananarivo to Paris with an intermediate stop in Tripoli. Shortly after take off, the twin engine aircraft christened 'Koufra' crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all eight occupants. The flight was conducted on behalf of the French Ministère de l'Air (Direction Technique et Industrielle).
Crew:
André Vercruysse, pilot,
Daniel Levesque, radio navigator,
Georges Deloustal, flight engineer.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar off Algiers: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-60 LodeStar

Operator:

Transport Aérien Militaire (TAM)

Registration:

FC-BAD

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Algiers – Marseille – Paris

MSN:

2328

YOM:

1943

Location:

Algiers

Country:

Algeria

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after take off from Algiers Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Mediterranean Sea. All 12 occupants were killed, among them the French Colonel Lionel de Marmier, faithful Officer of the General de Gaulle. He was flying back to Paris to take over the top management of Air France.
Crew:
Robert Guilloux, pilot,
Roger Henry, radio navigator,
Emile Guillot, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Col Lionel de Marmier,
Marcel Duclos.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident was not clearly determined. However, the assumption that the loss of control should be caused by sabotage has not been ruled out.