9/09/1939 Emergency landing of a French AF Potez 540 at Quiévrain (Belgium)

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi,


According to an unconfirmed report a French AF Potez 540 made on 9/09/1939 at 19h00 an emergency landing at Quiévrain. This village is situated at the Belgian side of the French-Belgian border. The crew of 4 was taken prisoner.



Is a confirmation and any additional information available ?


Many thanks and best regards


Luc

[Chris Goss]

Luc: I would say detained rather than a prisoner (of war) as France and Belgium were not at war

[Luc Vervoort]

Chris,


Thanks for the correction. No indication found that they were interned, so they were probably quickly released.


Best regards


Luc

[Leendert]

Dag Luc,

Found a little reference in a Dutch newspaper that two French airplanes were forced to land after having flown into Belgian airspace in the Quiévrain area.
Newspaper is dated 9 Sept 1939 and it speaks of 'one of these days', so incident may have been a day or two before.

Will send you a printscreen of article.

Groet,
Leendert

[Leendert]

Luc,
Have extended date range and now found in another article of 5 Sept 1939 that day before 'two small French fighter planes' were forced down near Quiévrain after crossing the FR-BE border.
Printscreen is on its way.

Groet,
Leendert

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi Leendert,


Many thanks for your replies and printscreen.


The 2 French aircraft mentioned made a forced landing on 4/09/1939 near L’Alvalaresse coal mine (at Chapelle-lez-Herlaimont, Belgium). According to local newspapers both planes were confiscated and the pilots interned. This incident was also mentioned in the German Lagebericht nr.18 of 8/09/1939.


Another French Air Force aircraft , a Potez 585 , carrying military mail , made an emergency landing on 6/10/1939 at Langemark (Belgium). The crew of 2 was interned and their aircraft confiscated.


This makes a total of 4 French Air Force planes, which all landed on Belgian territory.


Best regards


Luc