Incident
On the day of the accident, two C-119 aircraft departed Chièvres Airbase for a local combined training exercise. While operating in the vicinity of the airfield, the two aircraft, registered as CP-23 and CP-25, collided in mid-air. Both aircraft subsequently crashed in a field located in Montignies-lez-Lens, approximately 6 kilometers east of the airbase.
Aircraft and Crew
The collision resulted in the complete destruction of both aircraft. All 13 crew members on board were killed. The crew of aircraft CP-23 consisted of Captain Jules Gerard, Captain Albert Vermeerbergen, Commandant André Bolle, Adjutant Gilbert Deneef, and Sergeant-Major David Vandemeersche. The crew of aircraft CP-25 consisted of Sergeant José Decaigny, Adjutant Alfred Donckier, Captain Yvan Passchiersens, Sergeant Camille Bauvois, Adjutant Gilbert François, Adjutant Romeo Decot, Sergeant Raoul Depoorter, and Sergeant-Major Florimont Delroeux.
Location
The crash site was located in a field in Montignies-lez-Lens, about 6 kilometers east of the departure airbase. The precise sequence of events leading to the collision was not detailed in the source.