Country
code

Haut-Rhin

Crash of a Martin B-26G-15-MA Marauder in the Vosges: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1946 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Mengen - Brétigny-sur-Orge
MSN:
44-67855
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Captain / Total flying hours:
1300
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Mengen Airbase in the morning on a flight to Brétigny-sur-Orge, south of Paris, with several French Officers on board. Shortly before noon, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility due to heavy snow falls. While flying over the Vosges Mountain Range, the aircraft hit the slope of the snowy Le Ballon d'Alsace (1,247 meters high). The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 12 occupants were killed.
Crew (Groupe II/20 Bretagne):
S/Lt René Gasperment, pilot,
Sgt René Le Pironnec, navigator,
S/Lt André Taîb, radio operator,
Sgt Léopold Ney, mechanic.
Passengers:
Cdt Jean Mahé, Chief of Groupe II/20 Bretagne,
Cpt Loïc Le Saulnier,
Cpt Robert Milbeau,
Cdt Marcel Badoy,
Mrs Simone Badoy,
Mr Antoine Badoy (5 years old),
Mrs Jeanne Marie Stern, spouse of Cdt Jean Mahé,
Mr Robert Jolly, (9 years old, son of Cdt Jean Mahé).

Crash of a Martin B-26C-45-MO Marauder in Chalampé: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1945 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
08
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lyon - Lyon
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Attached to the Groupe de Bombardement Moyen I/22 Maroc, the aircraft left Lyon-Bron Airport in the morning to bomb several bridges over the Rhine. Approaching the target, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire, exploded and crashed in flames in a field located in Chalampé. Four crew members were killed while three others were wounded. The aircraft was registered 08 and 42-107713.
Crew:
Cdt Raoul Robert Albert Menard, pilot, †
Cpt Lucien Joseph Theobald, bomber, †
S/Lt Eugène Truchot, navigator, †
Sgt/C Pierre Marc Boutin, radio operator, †
Adj Jean-Baptiste Liebenguth, air gunner,
Lt Fourlinnie,
Cpl Letoffet, air gunner.
Sources & photos: http://jmfischer.chez.com/jbliebenguth.html