Bordeaux-Mérignac | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The three engine airplane departed Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport on a flight to Istres-Le Tubé AFB. While cruising northwest of Béziers in limited visibility, it impacted hilly terrain and was destroyed. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Obfw Josef Wirth, pilot,
Uffz Heinz Reils, radio operator,
Uffz Oskar Wolber, mechanic,
Ogefr Heinz Keunecke, air gunner,

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-5 in Bordeaux: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

8227

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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.

Probable cause:

Engine failure shortly after takeoff.

Crash of a Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor on Mt Brandon

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor

Operator:

Registration:

F8+KH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bordeaux - Bordeaux

MSN:

0015

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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.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Focke-Wulf Fw.200/C-1 Condor off Crimdon: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1940 at 2355 LT

Type of aircraft:

Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor

Operator:

Registration:

F8+EH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Bordeaux - Bordeaux

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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. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by the British Flak.

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

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1940 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 45 (451-459)

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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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.

Probable cause:

Elevator control jammed.

Crash of a Caudron C.635M Simoun in Bordeaux: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1940 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Caudron C.630/C.635 Simoun

Operator:

Registration:

496

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bordeaux - Bordeaux

MSN:

496

YOM:

1938

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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.

Crash of a Bloch MB.210 in Pessac

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1938 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bloch MB.210

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bordeaux - Bordeaux

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Circumstances:

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.

Probable cause:

Engine failure after takeoff.