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Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston in Laghouat

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1943 at 0905 LT
Operator:
Registration:
U-236
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Biskra - Laghouat
MSN:
021
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Biskra to transfer two mechanics to Laghouat. On approach to Laghouat, at an altitude of 400 metres, the crew descended below clouds and continued the approach. At a height of about 150-200 metres, the pilot encountered pressure on the control column. He decided to initiate a go around, raised the landing gear and the flaps. At full power, the airplane lost height and landed gear up on runway, slid for few hundred metres and came to rest. All four occupants escaped unhurt and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew.
Cpt Jean Rouzaud, pilot,
S/Lt André Fournier, observer.
Passengers:
Adj Henri Lavenant,
Sgt Georges Lazare.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451 on Djebel Tuggurt: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1943 at 0930 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L-1027
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Birskra - Teleghma
MSN:
491
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Biskra at 0835LT to transfer two US officers to Teleghma Airbase. Passing over Batna, the airplane entered clouds and the pilot was flying about 100 metres below the surrounding mountains. While cruising 11 km northwest of Batna, the airplane impacted trees and crashed on the slope of Pic des Cèdres, in the Djebel Tuggurt. The airplane disintegrated on impact and was destroyed by a post crash fire. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Henri Aimé César Lamy, pilot,
Lt Jean Paul Alfred Duballe, navigator,
Adj/C Roland Briault, radio operator,
Adj Jean Maxime Breton, mechanic,
Sgt Gaby André Signoret, air gunner.
Passengers:
Cpt Joe Walling Boone,
Sgt Lester M. Larsen.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. It is believed that the pilot may have seen the obstacle at the last moment as the airplane impacted the mountain in a significant nose-up attitude.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451 in Khemis Miliana

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1943 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L-842
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Agadir - Marrakech - Khemis Miliana
MSN:
306
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Agadir on a flight to Khemis Miliana with an intermediate stop in Marrakech. There were six passengers and four crew members on board. Four minutes prior to arrival at Khemis Miliana Airfield, the left engine lost power and failed. The pilot feathered the propeller and continued the approach. On short final at a height of 400 metres, he was unable to lower the landing gear so he took the decision to complete a belly landing. The airplane slid on the ground for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All 10 occupants evacuated safely and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Lt Hegly, pilot,
Sgt/C Brouquier, mechanic,
Lt Doubouy, observer,
Sgt Vial D'Alais, radio operator.
Probable cause:
Upon departure from Marrakech, a total of 2,700 liters of fuel was embarked, 1,600 liters in the main tanks, 800 liters in the rear auxiliary tanks and 300 liters in the front auxiliary tanks. It was determined that the fuel switch was on the wrong position when the engine lost power.

Crash of a Caudron C.635M Simoun near Laghouat

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1943 at 1520 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
500
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Aïn Oussera - Laghouat
MSN:
500
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Aïn Oussera Airfield on a flight to Laghouat. While cruising at an altitude of 400 metres, some 8 km from the destination airfield, the engine lost power. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a flat field. The airplane landed then rolled for about 100 metres when it collided with a rock pile, causing the undercarriage to collapse. The airplane slid for few dozen metres and came to rest, bursting into flames. Both occupants escaped unhurt while the airplane was totally destroyed by fire.
Crew:
Sgt C Orfila, pilot.
Passenger:
Cpt Bardou.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the engine failed in flight following a fuel exhaustion probably caused by a fuel leak.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston in Aïn Oussera

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1943 at 1230 LT
Operator:
Registration:
98
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Blida - Laghouat
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Blida Airfield at 1200LT on a transit flight to Laghouat. At 1225LT, while cruising 25 km from Aïn Oussera, the left engine lost power and black smoke was coming out from the nacelle. The crew decided to divert to Aïn Oussera but was unable to maintain a safe height because the left propeller could not be feathered. On final, the airplane stalled and crash landed, bursting into flames. All four crew members escaped unhurt while the airplane was destroyed.
Crew:
Sgt/C Jean Mérigon, pilot,
Adj/C Georges Touzé, cdt,
Sgt Albert Roure, mechanic,
Sgt/C Henri Juret, radio operator.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine in flight.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451 in Aïn Sefra

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1943 at 1600 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L-936
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
400
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a mail flight on behalf of GB 1/11 for the French troops based in Algeria. Following a normal takeoff, the crew lowered the landing gear when the right engine lost power. The engine speed dropped to 1,200 rpm and the fuel pressure failed to zero. At a height of 3-4 metres, the airplane rolled slightly to the right. The pilot-in-command regained control and performed a belly landing. The airplane slid for about 60 metres before coming to rest. All five crew members were rescued, among them four were injured. The airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Sgt Paul Joseph François Gridelet, pilot,
Sgt Jean Baraton, mechanic,
Sgt Vincent Castello, radio operator,
Lt Paul Flèche, chief,
Sgt Dominique Biaggi, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Loss of power on the right engine after takeoff consecutive to a failure of the fuel pressure.

Crash of a Caudron C.635M Simoun in Laghouat

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
218
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
218
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the airplane suffered a loss of engine power and bounced four times. The crew decided to continue when after liftoff, the left main gear and the base of the tail hit an embankment. Out of control, the airplane crashed 150 metres past the runway end and was written off. Both crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt/C Jean Taupin, pilot,
Adj Guy Tible, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Despite a loss of engine power during the takeoff roll, the crew decided to continue, causing the airplane to bounce four times and to hit an embankment after liftoff.

Crash of a Farman F.222.2 in Tizi Ouzou: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1942 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L-208
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
13
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
At 0600LT, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Tizi Ouzou. The passenger Sgt Aimé Augier survived while seven others were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Farman F.222.2 in Algiers

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L-162
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off from Algiers-Maison Blanche Airport, the airplane collided with an earth mound and crashed in a vineyard. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451 at Istres AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
L-851
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Istres - Istres
MSN:
315
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing an exercise at Istres-Le Tubé AFB when it crashed in unknown circumstances in Vergières located north of the airbase. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Adj/C André Schirman,
Adj/C Joseph Beck,
Sgt Bernard Perrey,
Sgt André Frachez-Charlot.