Country
code

Yvelines

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK in Les Mureaux AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
43-48956
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
26217/14772
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
Cpt Robert W. Bonhard,
Cpt Donald O. Larson,
S/Sgt H. S. MacFarland Jr.

Crash of a Farman F.224 in Sonchamp: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L-236
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vélizy-Villacoublay - Bourges
MSN:
41
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Vélizy-Villacoublay Airbase on a flight to Bourges, carrying seven crew members and various equipment. Few minutes after departure, it was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crash landed in a field, bursting into flames. Four occupants were injured and three were killed.
Crew:
Adj/C Gaston Lepage, pilot, †
Adj Dumont, copilot,
Sgt/C Pierre Petricorne, radio operator, †
Sgt Noël Charles Gardenier, †
Sgt Maffat,
Adj Pinardi,
Pvt Rival.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Potez 25 in Vélizy-Villacoublay

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1940 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2010
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rennes - Vélizy-Villacoublay
MSN:
2010
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Vélizy-Villacoublay Airport, the aircraft crashed due to a fuel exhaustion. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
Sgt/C Jean Bétrancourt, pilot.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Martin 167F Maryland in Mantes-la-Jolie

Date & Time: May 31, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
120
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an attack of enemy troops over Abbeville, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire. The crew was able to evacuate the area and to return to Mantes-la-Jolie but the aircraft crashed upon landing and was destroyed. One crew was seriously injured and two others were unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt Dezellis +2.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451 in Vélizy-Villacoublay: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1940 at 1105 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L-850
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vélizy-Villacoublay - Vélizy-Villacoublay
MSN:
314
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a test flight after the airplane just came out from manufacture. Shortly after liftoff, while climbing to a height of 15 metres, one of the engine lost power and emitted black smoke. The pilot retracted the landing gear to pass over the Bois du Loup Pendu but the airplane losing height, he lowered the gear when the airplane veered to the right and crashed, bursting into flames. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lucien Louis Ciavarini, pilot,
Constant François Camus, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Loss of engine power shortly after takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Potez 25A.2 in Vieille-Église-en-Yvelines: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1940 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1852
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vélizy-Villacoublay - Vélizy-Villacoublay
MSN:
1852
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie out from Vélizy-Villacoublay Airport. At an altitude of about 150 metres, the pilot-in-command initiated a vertical climb then a sharp turn to the right when the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field located in Vieille-Église-en-Yvelines near Rambouillet. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/Lt Tadeusz Zmijewski, pilot,
Asp Jacques Guespereau, observer.

Crash of a Farman F.192 in Buc

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1940 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-AJCD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Etempes - Etempes
MSN:
7134.2
YOM:
1929
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a training sortie out from Étempes, the airplane was approaching the airfield of Buc at low speed when it was caught by strong winds, lost height, impacted ground and crashed. All three crew members evacuated safely. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Lt Caboz, pilot,
Lt Segalla, mechanic.
Passenger:
Lt Fournier.
Probable cause:
Stall at low altitude and low speed after being caught by strong winds.

Crash of a Potez 25 in Vélizy-Villacoublay

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1939 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1752
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vélizy-Villacoublay - Vélizy-Villacoublay
MSN:
1752
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Vélizy-Villacoublay Airport for a local observation training exercice. Just after liftoff, the engine lost power. The pilot elected to gain speed and nosed down when the airplane hit the ground, bounced several times and came to rest upside down. Both crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt Maxime Bouchon, pilot,
Eoa Michel Flamand, observer.
Probable cause:
Loss of engine power after liftoff.

Crash of a Potez 25 in Vélizy-Villacoublay: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1939 at 1445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1816
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vélizy-Villacoublay - Vélizy-Villacoublay
MSN:
1816
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Vélizy-Villacoublay Airport for a local observation training exercice. While in initial climb, at a height of about 100 metres, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed onto a house located one km past the runway end. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Jean-Jacques Trébucien, pilot,
Eor Paul Mathieu, observer.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb after the observer's parachute open accidentally and deployed via the observation hatch.

Crash of a Caudron C.635M Simoun in Jouy-en-Josas: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1939 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
401
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Villacoublay – La Rochelle
MSN:
8492.401
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot took off from Vélizy-Villacoublay Airport almost simultaneously with a French Air Force Lioré 451. While in initial climb, the Simoun that was positioned to the left of the Lioré, collided the Lioré with its right wing. Out of control, the Simoun entered a dive and crashed on a farm adjacent to the Montcel Castle in Jouy-en-Josas. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
Adj/C Georges Marcillac, pilot.