Zone

Crash of a Bloch MB.210 in Saint-Martin-d’Août: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1939 at 1310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
E-856
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Avord - Istres
MSN:
183
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. All six crewmen decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in Saint-Martin-d'Août, some 32 northeast of Valence. Four crewmen were injured and two others were killed as their parachute failed to open. Crew from the 51st Bomb Squad.
Crew:
Sgt Daniel Dugourd, pilot,
Lt Gilbert Bonnardel, Chief,
Adj/C Henri Bouvet, observer, †
Sgt André Bozon, radio operator,
Sgt Henri Porcher, mechanic,
Cpl/C Jean Lucas, radio. †