F-AMYD
Wibault-Penhoet 283.T12
(c/n 11)
The Wibault-Penhoet 283.T12 was a development of the
earlier model 282.T12 which had been
put into
service by Air France forerunner Air Union. When Air France was
formed in 1933 it ord-
ered ten of the
modified 283 models. Noticeable difference between this and the
earlier Wibaults
were the huge
undercarriage pants. Despite this enormous side area, it is
interesting to note that
tail surfaces were
not enlarged. F-AMYD was destroyed in a crash at Kasperske
Hory, Czecho-
slovakia
on 24 December 1937. It was on a flight from Bucharest to Paris
via Vienna and Prague.
Just prior to
its landing in Vienna the captain was advised by Austrian air traffic
control to change
course
resulting in its impacting a mountain. Visibility was poor with
heavy snow falling at the time.
The true cause of the accident was never
determined. The single passenger aboard along with the
crew of two
perished. My image above is from a pre-WW II Air France
post card. It was also
the subject of
the John Player & Sons International Air Liners cigarette card set
(No 15) distributed
in 1938 (below).