Air Union France

Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-213

En route from Paris to Croydon, the aircraft caught fire in flight. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in an open field. The aircraft rolled for few dozen metres before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All six occupants evacuated safely and the airplane was destroyed by fire.

Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-213

The crew departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 0525LT bound for London. On approach to Croydon Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. The pilot reduced his altitude to establish a visual contact with the ground when the airplane impacted a tree and crashed in the parking lot of an Hotel located in Selsdon Park, Surrey. The copilot was seriously injured and the captain Gustave Demeuldre was killed.

Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-198

Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Farman F.60 Goliath

Shortly after takeoff from Marden, the airplane went out of control and crashed in an open field located in Widehurst Farm. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Blériot Spad 56

While approaching Lyon-Bron Airport on a mail flight from Paris-Le Bourget, the pilot lost control of the aircraft following an in-flight fire. The aircraft crashed and came to rest upside down in a field located in Genas, some 3 km east of the airfield. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed. It is possible that the engine caught fire in flight.

Blériot Spad 56

The pilot departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport on a mail flight to Marseille. After takeoff, the pilote René Charpentier continued to the south and after passing over Fontainebleau, while approaching Sens, he encountered unknown technical problems and attempted to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed in a prairie and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot was unhurt.

Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-13

The seaplane departed the bay of Ouchy in Lausanne on a flight to Évian-les-Bains, carrying three passengers and two crew members. Less than one minute after takeoff, the pilot encountered problems and lost control of the airplane that crashed in the Lake of Geneva. Both crew members were injured and all three passengers were killed. Crew: Henri Vallin, pilot, René Billigot, machanic. Passengers: Mrs. Madeleine Carlier, Mr. & Mrs. Raphaël Crélier.

Farman F.63bis Goliath

The aircraft departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport in the early morning on a cargo flight to Croydon, carrying two crew members and a load of 550 kg of various goods and mail. En route, the pilot Henri Roth encountered technical problems while flying in poor visibility due to foggy conditions. After passing over Tonbridge, the airplane was low on fuel and the pilot attempted to make an emergency landing at Penshurst Aerodrome. The airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, impacted a hedge and crashed near a road. Both crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Farman F.63bis Goliath

The aircraft departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 1005LT bound for Croydon. Fifteen minutes later, engine problems forced the crew to return to Le Bourget. Spark plugs were changed and the crew took off again at 1045LT. While cruising in the vicinity of Maidstone, Kent, the crew heard a loud bang coming from the rear of the aircraft. A part of the stabilizer detached and pilot reduced his altitude when all passengers were positioned in the rear of the cabin. On approach to a snow covered field located in Marden, at a height of 15 metres, the pilot cut both engines when the aircraft gain height and climbed to a height of 30 metres. Then it stalled and crashed on the ground, bursting into flames. The passenger Hugh Curzon who was unhurt, could rescue and evacuate all three crew members who were injured, but was unable to rescue both other passengers who remained prisoners of the cabin under fire. Crew: Henri Nevot, pilot, Mr. Le Sollier, mechanic, Mr. Alveaux, radio. Passengers: Hugh Curzon, employee of Cook Company in Paris, Mr. & Mrs. A. Hodges, US citizen who get back to England following a honeymoon in Paris.

Lioré-et-Olivier LEO H-190

Few minutes after his departure from Ajaccio, while flying along the southern Corsica coast, the crew was informed by radio that he should fly at an altitude of 1,200 metres. Later, at 0930LT, he received information about foggy conditions south of Corsica. Shortly later, the aircraft disappeared off the Cape Zivia, some 10 km south of Propriano. SAR operations were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The pilot was Captain Guillaume de Cugnac.

Farman F.63bis Goliath

While cruising east of Tonbridge, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing due to unknown technical problems. The aircraft crashed in a field located near the Paddock Wood railway station, bursting into flames. Both crew members escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft named 'Vendée' was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-13

For unknown reason, the seaplane broke into several pieces while landing in the harbor of Antibes. Both crew members were injured and both passengers were killed.

SPCA Météore 63

On a flight from Naples to Ajaccio, while approaching the coast of Corsica, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to ditch the seaplane in the Mediterranean sea off Alistro. All three crew members were quickly rescued by the crew of the torpedo named 'Simoun'. The aircraft was salvaged but later considered as damaged beyond repair.

Blériot Spad 56

En route to Marseille, while overflying Ardèche, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. He decided to make an emergency landing in a field located in Sécheras. Upon landing in a muddy field, the aircraft lost its undercarriage and sank into the ground. On impact, the pilot was ejected and died few minutes later while the passenger, a British Doctor, was unhurt. Crew: Maurice Bodin, pilot. Passenger: Mr. Seguel.

Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-198

The crew departed Le Havre in the morning on a mail flight to New York with an intermediate stop in Cherbourg. While cruising off the British coast, a magneto failed. The crew was forced to ditch the airplane some 45 km southwest of Bishop Rock, in the Isles of Scilly. Due to rough sea, the crew was unable to take off and was later rescued by fishermen. The aircraft was towed but considered as damaged beyond repair. Crew: Lt Louis Demougeot, pilot, Mr. Montrouseau, copilot.

Lioré-et-Olivier LEO H-190

After takeoff from Tunis-Carthage Airport, the aircraft stalled and crashed in the Kheireddine district. Occupant fate unknown.

Blériot Spad 56

Few minutes after takeoff from Marseille, bound for Paris, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field located in La Fare-les-Oliviers, about 25 km northwest of Marseille. Both occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Farman F.60 Goliath

The crew departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport on a mail flight to Croydon. While cruising over The Channel in heavy snow falls, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in the sea off Folkestone. Both crew members were killed, among them André Schutz. The airplane was named 'Provence'.

Farman F.60 Goliath

While cruising over The Channel and approaching the British coast, the crew encountered technical problems. The pilot decided to ditch the aircraft off Hythe, Kent. While all occupants were quickly rescued, the aircraft named 'Normandie' was lost.

Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-196

On the leg from Ajaccio to Tunis, while flying over the Mediterranean Sea, the crew encountered engine problems and ditched the aircraft off Ustica Island, north of Palermo. The crew was rescued three days later and the aircraft was recovered but considered as written off. Crew: Jean Ponce, pilot, Mr. Maillard, mechanic.

SPCA Météore 63

Shortly after takeoff from Algiers, the three engine seaplane stalled and crashed in the sea. The engineer was injured, the navigator was uninjured and the pilot Louis Larmor was killed. It seems that an engine failed shortly after takeoff. Crew: Louis Larmor, pilot, † Pierre Ducaud, radio, Vincent Riera, mechanic.

Farman F.63bis Goliath

The airplane departed Paris-Le Bourget on a mail flight to Croydon with a crew of two on board. Following an uneventful flight of two hours, the left engine started to lose power then failed. The pilot elected to make an emergency landing, reduced his altitude and attempted to land in an open field located in Tonbridge, Kent. On final, the pilot made a turn to the left when the left wing struck trees, causing the aircraft to crash on the ground. Both occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Blériot 155

The aircraft departed Le Bourget Airport at 1330LT bound for Croydon Airport, London. After crossing The Channel, the crew proceeded with a radio control over Tonbridge at 1524LT. At this time, all was OK on board according to the crew. Three minutes later, the port upper engine caught fire. Immediately, the pilot modified his route and diverted to Penshurst Airport close to his position to make an emergency landing. Eyewitnesses described the tail of the aircraft sinking whilst the aircraft gained a little height. Then the aircraft rolled over and dived to the ground where the wreckage was consumed by fire. The aircraft crashed in the grounds of a house named Southwood, in Leigh, Kent. All seven occupants were killed. The aircraft had been inspected before the flight, and a certificate issued by Bureau Veritas showing that it was fit for flight. The pilot was experienced, with over 2,000 hours flying time, and had been in the employ of Air Union since 1920. He had made 61 return flights between Paris and London. As both crew were French citizens, all five passengers were British.

Blériot 155

The aircraft departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 1240LT bound for Croydon with a crew of two and 13 passengers on board. The crew made a radio control arriving over the Channel and its overflight was uneventful. While reaching the British coast, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. Due to poor visibility, the pilot decided to make a precautionary landing in Romney Marsh but his altitude was too low. The noise of all four engines suddenly ceased and the machine descended in a gliding turn to port as if the pilot was manoeuvring to land. When passing over some farm buildings on the borders of a large field, the four engines aircraft hit the roof of a barn and crashed into some hayricks. The pilot and two passengers were killed while 12 other occupants were injured, 10 seriously. Crew: Pierre Delisle, pilot, † Gabriel Ducos, mechanic. Passengers: R. Blaney, † H. Rizzi, † Mr. R. McAdam, Mr. S. Hazzard, Miss S. Hazzard, Miss H. Awes, Miss E. Fearn, Miss M. Varden, Miss V. Varden, Mr. L. Stroh, Miss E. Bennett, Lord Norreys, Mrs. Grant. Source: Kent & Sussex History Forum

Breguet 14

While on a mail flight from Paris to Croydon, the aircraft disappeared in The Channel. SAR operations were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot Xavier R. A. de Masin was found.

Farman F.60 Goliath

The airplane departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 1255LT on a flight to Croydon, carrying seven passengers and two crew members. After passing over The Channel, the crew passed Dymchurch when the weather conditions worsened with rain falls and storm activity. The pilot reduced his altitude to 500 feet then decided to follow a railway line, apparently to divert to Penshurst Aerodrome. Too low, the aircraft collided with an oak tree and crashed in an open field. A female passenger was killed while eight other occupants were injured. The aircraft named 'Île de France' was damaged beyond repair. Crew: Roger Paul Ernest Thierry, pilot, Pierre Auclair, mechanic. Passengers: Mrs. Kate V. Burke, Reverend D. Burke, Mr. J. L. Burke, Mrs. M. Redner, + three other passengers, an Italian, a French and a Briton.

Breguet 14

Suffered an accident somewhere in France? Occupant fate unknown.

Blériot Spad 33

The pilot, sole on board, departed Croydon Airport at 1430LT on a cargo flight to Paris-Le Bourget. About an hour into the flight, just passing over Kent, the pilot encountered technical problems and elected to ditch the aircraft off Copt Point in Folkestone. The pilot was quickly rescued by fishermen while the aircraft was lost.

Farman F.60 Goliath

For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed hard at Croydon Airport. Upon impact, it nosed down before coming to rest, bursting into flames. While all occupants evacuated safely, the aircraft was destroyed by fire. Pilot was Paul Delisle.

Farman F.60 Goliath

After overflying the Channel, the crew encountered technical problems and made a force landing in Littlestone-on-Sea, Kent. While all occupants evacuated safely, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Farman F.60 Goliath

The aircraft departed Paris-Le Bourget at 1245LT and landed at Berck-sur-Mer a little over an hour later in order to take 3 passengers on board, the journey being continued at 1445LT. Shortly after passing Lympne, the port engine commenced to overheat and on this account the pilot turned back and landed on the aerodrome. It was then found that the port radiator was leaking. After the mechanic had executed a temporary repair and refilled the radiator, the pilot left Lympne at 1647LT with both engines running satisfactorily. When the aeroplane was a few miles to the south of Maidstone, flying at a height of about 1,500 feet, the starboard engine failed suddenly and completely, the propeller coming to a standstill. The pilot, while looking for a suitable landing ground and keeping the port engine running under full power, made a wide circuit to the left and at a height of about 500 feet he resumed his original course with the intention of landing in a large field on East Malling. (This field was known to the pilot, as he had on a previous occasion made a forced landing not far from it). While the pilot was making the circuit to the left the mechanic reported the engine failure to Croydon by W/T and moved two suitcases from his gangway to the rear of the passengers' cabin. Acting on an order from the pilot, he then instructed the four passengers in the nose of the Goliath to move into the after portion of the cabin. Two of the passengers took up a position at the rear end of the cabin and one stood by the second seat. The fourth passenger in the nose of the machine, (killed) who at that time was suffering from air sickness, refused to leave his seat. On nearing the ground and when the aeroplane was heading in a N.N.W. direction with the field on its port bow, the pilot throttled down the port engine and prepared to turn into wind for the landing. As soon as the engine was throttled down the tail of the machine commenced to drop and the pilot was unable to correct the movement, the controls becoming inoperative. The aeroplane then turned with increasing bank to starboard and finally nose-dived to the ground. The pilot was slightly injured in the crash, his mechanic was hurt quite seriously. Crew: Jean-Jacques Denneulin, pilot, Jean Morin, mechanic. Passengers: Mr. L. E. A. Gunther (killed) Mr. S. Bertish (seriously injured) Mr. M.Oliver (seriously injured) Mr. M. Strieseman (seriously injured) Mr. Centeswall (seriously injured) Mr. A.M. Austin (injured) Mr. D. Smith (injured) Mrs Smith (injured) Mr. Murat (unhurt). Source: Kent & Sussex History Forum

Farman F.60 Goliath

The aircraft departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 1235LT bound to the north. While cruising at a height of 3,000 feet, the entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field located in Monsures, Somme. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All six occupants were killed. Crew: François Le Men, pilot +1. Passenger: Mr. Pierrot, Technical Director of Air Union, Two US citizen, One Finnish citizen.