Aumur air crash of 17 June 1939

On 19 August 1936 an Amiot 143 bomber of the 34ème Escadre de bombardement crashed at Aumur after exploding in flight, killing two crew members.

The accident

On 17 June 1939 an Amiot 143 bomber (no. 89, serial E 313), belonging to Groupe de bombardement GB II/34 of the 34éme Escadre de bombardement of Le Bourget, was in flight when at 9:30 it ran into particularly adverse weather conditions. As a result of the bad weather the aircraft, which was flying at high altitude, broke up in flight, or was perhaps struck by lightning and exploded. Among the crew members, who managed to parachute out, there were 2 dead and 3 injured. The aircraft commander, Lieutenant Roland, died immediately after being taken to the hospital in Dole, while Sergeant Major Burnel (pilot) died in that same hospital at 13:00. Adjutant Durand, mechanic, was seriously injured and was taken to the hospital in Dole, and then to Besançon. Lieutenant Bouchard, mechanic, was very seriously injured and was taken first to the hospital in Dole, and then to Besançon. Sergeant Castiglio (radio operator) was slightly injured.

Huge debris was scattered over more than one square kilometre of the area of the village of Aumur, while the tail of the aircraft fell more than 800 metres from the nose. General Robert Odic went personally to the accident site.