4 August 1938 Bron air accident

On 4 August 1938 an Amiot 143 bomber of the Escadron d'Entraînement of Air Base 105 at Bron crashed at Bron while landing, killing two crew members.

The accident

On Thursday 4 August 1938, at around 18:30, the Amiot 143 bomber aircraft no. 38 (code 2), belonging to the Escadron d'Entraînement of Air Base 105 at Bron, took off for a training mission. On board the aircraft were, in the cockpit, reserve Sergeant Major Dieudet with, at his side, instructor pilot Sergeant Herbepin, reserve Lieutenant Jeannon, observer, and Sergeant Roux, mechanic.

On returning to the airfield, during the landing phase on the south runway, while overflying the Saint Jean path (today avenue Salvador Allende), the aircraft was flying at a height of 10 metres when the two wheels of the aircraft's landing gear struck the edge of the pavement. The right wing struck an electricity pylon and the telephone wires were torn down. With a great roar, the aircraft struck the farm of Joseph Michel, and the left engine brought down the wall of the building at the level of the first floor.

The airmen were seriously injured and were immediately rescued: Lieutenant Jeannon died shortly after his admission to the "Desgenettes" military hospital and Sergeant Dieudet died the following day. Sergeant Major Herbepin, although seriously injured, survived, and Sergeant Roux, who had the presence of mind to jump out of the aircraft at the last moment, suffered only a few bruises. Madame Michel, aged 75, who was in a room of the farmhouse, was slightly injured.