CAMS 53

Air France

While descending to Ajaccio, the crew sent a short mayday message following a power plant failure. The seaplane aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea, few km off shore. All six occupants were killed. Crew: Edmond Larbonne, pilot, Laurent Caillebotte, radio navigator, Robert Juge, engineer.

Air France

On approach to Ajaccio, the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the harbor of Ajaccio. All six occupants were rescued while the aircraft christened 'Saintonge' was lost.

Air France

En route from Kerkyra to Naples, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls. The captain decided to ditch the airplane in the Ionian Sea some 50 km southeast of Santa Maria di Leuca, Apulia. All six occupants were rescued by the crew of the Italian ship named 'Paganini' while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Air France

A technical failure of unknown origin forced the pilot to make an emergency landing in the Gulf of Tunis, off Qurbus. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all occupants were rescued.

Air France

The float plane departed Marseille at 0840LT on a flight to Algiers, carrying one passenger and three crew members. Some twenty minutes into the flight, one of the engine failed, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft. The radio navigator was able to send a mayday message and to report his position. In bad weather conditions and rough sea, the crew of the ship named 'Sainte Marguerite II' arrived on scene at 0600LT the following day and was able to evacuate all four occupants who were slightly injured. The aircraft sank and was lost.

Air Orient

Named 'Provence', the aircraft was spotted over Castrovillari at 0740LT while cruising at a height of 2,500 metres. In a snowstorm, it lost some 1,000 metres in few seconds due to strong downdrafts. The pilot increased the engine power to gain altitude when the airplane impacted a tree located on the top of the Mt Terrione and crashed. Due to poor weather conditions, SAR operations were unable to localize the airplane and the first rescuers arrived on site five days later, on April 28. Three passengers were found seriously injured while all five other occupants, among them all three crew, were killed. Crew: André Corouge, pilot, Mr. Guillotaux, radio navigator, Mr. Leroux, mechanic.

L'Aéropostale

A first takeoff attempt from Algiers' harbor was aborted. During the second attempt, the float plane hit waves, nosed down, overturned and came to rest upside down. The pilot and the mechanic were rescued while the radio operator drowned. His dead body was eventually found on January 19, in the Algiers' harbor. Crew: Roger Feru, pilot, Georges Deloustal, mechanic, Albert Laget, radio navigator. †

Air Orient

For unknown reasons, the seaplane landed hard in the Naples' harbor. The fuselage broke and water entered the cabin. All six occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft named 'Picardie' sank and was lost.

Air Orient

While landing in Beirut's harbor, the seaplane overturned, came to rest upside down and sank. All occupants were rescued but both pilots were seriously injured, among them Cpt Jean Hennequin.

L'Aéropostale

One hour after his departure from Marseille, the crew experienced an engine failure and was forced to ditch the aircraft. All three occupants were rescued by the crew of the Spanish ship named 'Helius' while the aircraft, trying to be towed, sank and was lost. Crew: Mr. de Visa, pilot, Maurice Thomasset, radio navigator, Mr. Mailland, mechanic.

L'Aéropostale

The aircraft departed Marseille at 0813LT on a mail flight to Algiers. At 1040LT, the crew reported his position along the Balearic coast. Around noon, while approaching the Algerian coast, the pilot sent a brief message and announced he was forced to attempt an emergency landing off Cape of Pointe Pescade, some 30 km northwest of Algiers, due to an engine failure. All three crew members were uninjured and rescued around 1600LT by the crew of ship named 'Colonel Casse'. The aircraft sank and was lost. Crew: Mr. De Visa, pilot, Maurice Thomasset, radio navigator, Albin Pinot, mechanic.

L'Aéropostale

En route from Marseille to Algiers and while approaching the Balearic Islands, the crew encountered an engine failure. The pilot Max Ringel ditched the aircraft in the Mediterranean Sea. All three crew members were rescued. The aircraft sank was lost. Brand new, it was delivered 30 November 1929.

L'Aéropostale

An engine failed en route, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft in the Mediterranean Sea some 130 km north of Algiers. While all three crew members were quickly rescued by the crew of the ship named 'Timgad', the aircraft that was damaged beyond repair was towed two days later by the crew of the ship named 'Colonel-Casse'. Crew: Alexandre Pichodou, pilot, Mr. Hautot, radio, Mr. Traverse, engineer.

L'Aéropostale

During the takeoff roll from the Algiers harbor, at high speed, the seaplane hit a wreck partially submerged. The hull torn off and the aircraft came to rest in water, partially destroyed. The crew of the French ship named 'Colonel-Casse' was able to rescue the captain who was slightly injured while all five other occupants were killed. Crew: Max Ringel, pilot, Mr. Canal, radio, André Dupont, mechanic. Passenger: Clovis Armani, Champion of France of fencing (he was on his way to Budapest to take part to a fencing competition), Mrs. Armani, Mrs. Canal.