Studying the remains of aviation accidents in the Occitanie region of France from the 1910s to the late 1940s: tools, methods and contributions to the construction of aviation history

The study focuses on the remains of aviation accidents in France’s Occitanie region, combining historical research, aeronautical archaeology and materials science. The goal was to document accidents using archives, eyewitness accounts and field investigations. The geolocated database reports 685 accidents and highlights accident clusters, first along the pioneering airmail routes of the Latécoère Lines (1919–1927) and then in Haute-Garonne and Pyrénées-Orientales counties during World War II, when they were marked by German occupation. German aircraft (Junkers 88, Messerschmitt Bf 109, Focke Wulf 190) dominate WWII records, alongside French models (Dewoitine D.520). Fieldwork focused on recovering wreckage and analysing materials used, particularly Duralumin alloys. Chemical analyses revealed wartime adaptations, such as reducing copper in German alloys after 1943 due to shortages. The project also explores memory and heritage, identifying memorials and promoting public engagement. By integrating interdisciplinary methods, the reported work enriches aviation history, linking technical advancements, heritage materials and collective memory.