102 years after the tragedy, the memory of the Dixmude honored with solemnity

As a reminder, the Dixmude was the victim of an accident off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, in Sicily. SHARED MEMORY This painful page in the history of French naval aviation is closely linked to the commune of Pierrefeu-du-Var. Between wreath layings, the sounding of the Last Post, it was also with gravity and emotion that civil and military authorities recalled the link existing between the commune and the Dixmude.

Gathered in front of the imposing stele, residents, families, and flag-bearers were united to pay tribute to the 50 missing crew members. With the Marseillaise and armed detachments, this time of remembrance is a major highlight in the life of the commune.

Here, the disappearance of the Dixmude airship and its crew is not just a matter of national history. Thanks to the dynamic work of the association des Amis du Dixmude, chaired by Daniel Baert, and its close guard, it remains a shared, living memory, supported by the commitment of institutions and associations. For their part, patriotic and memorial associations also demonstrated their attachment to this duty of remembrance and stressed the importance of passing this tragic history on to younger generations.

Thus, the ceremony highlighted the close and lasting bond linking the association des Amis du Dixmude, chaired by Daniel Baert, to the espace tradition de l'aéronautique navale de Hyères. This active partnership helps keep the memory of the airship and its sailors alive, through the preservation of archives, objects and models, testimonies, and also through educational and cultural activities open to the public by appointment.