Seine-Maritime

While overflying The Channel, the crew encountered technical problems with the engines. While approaching the French coast, the pilot in command attempted an emergency landing in a field located in Le Tréport. The airplane crash landed in an open field, slid for several yards and came to rest. All three occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Due to a strike by Air France, all flights from Paris to London were cancelled and the Ice Hockey National Team of Czechoslovakia was grounded in Paris. As the team should fly to London to take part to a tournament, it was decided that few players rent a plane by Mercure Taxis Aériens. The founder and Chief Pilot of this company disagreed to do the flight due to poor weather conditions above The Channel but was finally convinced to fly to London. The twin engine aircraft left Paris-Le Bourget at 1638 bound for Croydon. About an hour later, while flying over The Channel, the crew encountered poor weather conditions (mist) and maybe, the pilot elected to return to Paris or to divert to Cherbourg when the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea off Dieppe. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Croydon, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the eight occupants was found. A year later, human remains were found on a beach and analysis suggest that they belonged to the pilot.
Crew:
René de Narbonne, pilot 1.
Passengers:
Ladislav Trojak,
Karel Stibor,
Zdenek Svarc,
Vilibald Sorrel,
Miloslav Pokorny,
Zdeněk Jarkovský.

While cruising north of Rouen, the crew encountered poor weather and severe icing conditions. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located north of Rouen, some 24 km southeast of Saint-Valéry-en-Caux. All four crew members were killed.

The crew was engaged in a bombing mission and while approaching Le Havre, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (320th Squadron):
1st Lt Folkert Bouma,
Sgt Hugo Jan Hadjiwodo Seelig,
Cpl Rudolf Langendam,
Cpl Wilhelmus Antonius Henricus Melissen.

While on a bombing mission, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Frichemesnil, north of Rouen. A crewmen was taken POW while all three other occupants were killed.

The airplane departed RAF Kirmington at 2321LT on April 10 on an operation to Frankfurt. While returning to base the following morning, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed near the petrol dock of Le Havre. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Philip Raymond Hall, pilot,
Sgt Tudor Lewis Edwards, flight engineer,
Sgt Harry Elliott, bomb aimer,
F/Sgt Reginald Lionel Casterllari, wireless operator,
Sgt Eric James Peacock, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Bassingbourn on an operation to the railway marshalling yards of Sotteville in Rouen. Approaching the French coast, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed about one km off Veulettes-sur-Mer. All 10 crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt John A. Coen, pilot,
2nd Lt Caryll D. Nobbs, copilot,
2nd Lt Harold A. Davidson, navigator,
S/Sgt Domenic A. Caruso, radio operator,
S/Sgt James M. Bechtel, air gunner,
2nd Lt John W. Butler, bombardier,
S/Sgt Francis E. Byrne, air gunner,
S/Sgt Paul E. Kyes, air gunner,
S/Sgt Louis T. McLane, air gunner,
T/Sgt John C. Strozzi, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Downham Market at 1950LT on an operation to Stuttgart. It crashed in unknown circumstances near the Aerodrome of Dieppe-Saint-Aubin and was destroyed. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Gerald Andrew Parkinson, pilot,
Sgt Reginald Baron Percy Henry Heath, flight engineer,
Sgt Philip Percy Jobling, navigator,
P/O Joseph Millward, navigator,
Sgt Dennis Collins, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Colin James Campbell, air gunner,
Sgt James Hamilton Ross, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Shipdham on an operation to the railway marshalling yards in Sotteville. Approaching Rouen, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed east of Sierville. Ten crew members were killed and the navigator parachuted to safety and became PoW.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert W. Blaine, pilot, †
2nd Lt Lawrence J. Roetto, copilot, †
T/Sgt George L. Nored, flight engineer, †
1st Lt Leo O. Frazier, navigator,
T/Sgt Oscar Kreissig, radio operator, †
2nd Lt Thomas C. Mayen, bombardier, †
S/Sgt Norman A. Breniser, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Frank N. Doria,air gunner, †
S/Sgt Edward Sufka, air gunner, †
Sgt Benjamin F. White, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Don J. Williams, air gunner. †

The airplane departed RAF Shipdham on an operation to the railway marshalling yards of Soteville-lès-Rouen. It was shot down by a German fighter and all 10 crew members abandoned the airplane. Three of them parachuted to safety and became PoW while seven others were killed by enemy fire while descending to the ground.
Crew:
Cpt Clyde E. Price, pilot, †
2nd Lt Robert E. Forrest, copilot, †
T/Sgt Dalton R. Snell, flight engineer, †
S/Sgt Roy E. Gosline, assistant flight engineer, †
1st Lt Jacob A. Augenstene Jr., navigator, †
1st Lt Donald E. Jester, radio operator, †
2nd Lt Morton P. Gross, bombardier, †
S/Sgt Lewis J. Fleshman, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Deane J. Devars, air gunner,
S/Sgt Kenneth Lynn Erhard, air gunner,
S/Sgt Iris C. Wyer, air gunner.