Details: Category: News; Also available:; Hits: 50

On Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 4:30 p.m., during a visit to “la Maison départementale de la mémoire militaire” by members of the Association of Former Airfields, “Les Amis de La Martinerie” signed, with Mr. Jean-François Reille, and in the presence of Nadine Bellurot, Indre Senator and former Mayor of Reuilly; Florence Petipez, General Councilor representing Marc Fleuret, President; Gil Avérous, President of Châteauroux Métropole; Ms. Baptista, current Mayor of Reuilly; and Mr. Devau, Mayor of Neuvy-Pailloux, an agreement to hand over the fragments of the aircraft that Yves du Manoir was piloting during his fatal crash in Reuilly on January 2, 1928.

"Remember, on that day, a thick fog covered the town of Reuilly and its surroundings. Around 10:50 a.m., the sound of a Caudron engine began to be heard by the residents of Reuilly. Suddenly, the engine noise was replaced by the sound of breaking wood, then nothing.

Yves du Manoir has just been killed while conducting a flight exercise on the triangle of Avord (Cher), Romorantin (Loir-et-Cher), Châteauroux - La Martinerie (Indre).

This great athlete, captain of the French national team, crashed into a line of tall poplars near Chemin de la Valterie while trying to read the name on the facade of Reuilly train station in the thick fog. (Remember that at the time, flights were conducted visually, with only the aid of a compass and a map.)"

Recently, Mr. Jean-François Reille, whose family lived in Reuilly, while sorting through family belongings, found three wooden fragments of the aircraft, which had been kept by his grandparents in a cupboard, wrapped in a tricolor ribbon. These fragments (numbered and therefore authenticated) were presented to “Les Amis de La Martinerie” by their owner and presented by Didier Dubant, the association's historian. They will now be displayed in one of the display cases at “la Maison départementale de la mémoire militaire” for all visitors to see.

ICI Berry (France Bleu) article of April 28, 2025