French Government

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The aircraft was performing a flight from Yaoundé to Paris on behalf of the French Government, carrying Mr. André Soucadaux, High Commissioner of France in Cameroun, his wife and both children and his chief of cabinet. While cruising southeast of Ouagadougou, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and informed ground that he lost his orientation. Eventually, the captain attempted to make an emergency landing in a desert area located near Tenkodogo, about 140 km southeast of Ouagadougou. All 13 occupants were injured and later rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Airspeed AS.65 Consul

Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. It was completing a flight on behalf of the French Indochina Government (Haut Commissaire de France en Indochine).

Potez 662

The four engine aircraft was en route from Algiers to Vichy with a crew of four and three passengers on board. At 1247LT, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the crew informed ATC he wanted to divert to Marseille due to icing conditions. Sixteen minutes later, the aircraft lost altitude, hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located on the south slope of Mt Aigoual, near the Minier Pass, north of Villeraugue. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post impact fire. All seven occupants were killed, among them the French General Charles Huntziger, Chief of Ground Forces. Unique example built in 1937, the aircraft was christened 'Plus est en nous'. Crew: Jean Lefèvre, pilot. Passengers: General Charles Huntziger, Jean Labusquière, Chief of Staff, Captain de Royère.

Caudron C.635 Simoun

The crew was performing a mail flight from Antananarivo to Ihosy with an intermediate stop in Morondava. Shortly after take off, while in initial climb, the engine failed. After a first segment of some 1,500 meters, the aircraft stalled, hit a tree and crashed in a field. While the pilot was killed, the engineer was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. Crew: Jacques Ringel, pilot, Roland Chollet, engineer.

Potez 540

On the evening of 22JUN1938, the crew completed some training maneuvers in the airports of Orléans, Châteauroux and Tours before flying back to his base in Villacoublay. The twine engine aircraft left Tours-Parçay-Meslay Airport shortly after midnight on 23JUN1938. An engine misfired few minutes after takeoff and the attempted to make an emergency landing when the right wing hit the ground. Aircraft crashed in a huge explosion and was totally wrecked by impact forces and post crash fire. All seven crewmen were killed. They were performing a mission on behalf of the Section Centrale des Transports Aériens (SCTA). Crew: Captain Reynaud, Lieutenant Canal, Lieutenant de Vaisseau Perret, Sergeant in Chief Thibault, Sergeant Fabre.

Farman F.390

The single engine aircraft left La Baule-Escoublac Airport bound for Chartres with a pilot and a passenger on board. En route, he encountered engine problems and decided to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing in a wheat field. The aircraft landed long and eventually hit a tree before coming to rest. While both occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was destroyed. The aircraft was owned by the French Ministry of the Air and was registered F-AMOR and CT-16 as well. Crew: Gaston Lefol, pilot. Passenger: Albert Etévé, General Inspector of Aeronautic.