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The Incredible Story of This Fighter Plane That Has Rested at the Bottom of Arcachon Bay for Over 55 Years

undefined undefined 12 septembre 2026 undefined 18h00

The Editor

Victim of an aerial collision in 1969, a Mystère IV fighter plane still lies at the bottom of Arcachon Bay. Towed into one of the Basin's deepest trenches after its crash, the wreck has become one of its most fascinating mysteries.

Few strollers know about it, but the Arcachon Basin has been hiding, for over half a century, an astonishing relic of aeronautical history. At the bottom of the Saint-Yves hole, a pit about thirty meters deep located off the Chapel jetty, rests a Mystère IV from the Air Force, submerged since 1969.

A mid-air collision at nearly 700 km/h

It all began on November 18, 1969, shortly before noon. Two Mystère IV fighter jets, based in Cazaux, collided during a training exercise over the Arcachon Basin at nearly 700 km/h.

One of the aircraft managed to make it back to base despite significant damage. The second, piloted by Lieutenant Théophile Rion, headed toward Arcachon before the pilot succeeded in steering it away from the town. The plane ultimately plunged into the sea, approximately 500 meters from Pereire Beach.


A Pilot Rescued in the Nick of Time

At just 50 meters above the water, Lieutenant Théophile Rion ejects from his cockpit. He is quickly rescued by several fishermen from Arcachon, who retrieve him safe and sound before bringing him back to shore.

An experienced pilot decorated with the Legion of Honor, Théophile Rion had already logged more than 5,000 flight hours, more than 300 combat missions and several crashes throughout his career.

A Wreck Engulfed in the Saint-Yves Hole

After floating for a few days, the aircraft is towed

toward the Saint-Yves hole, a natural sinkhole roughly 30 meters deep, considered one of the deepest points in the Basin.

This genuine shipwreck cemetery already welcomes several sunken boats, such as La Petite Fleur de Lisieux, Le Côtre Bleu, La Mado or even Santa Ana. Initially, authorities considered blowing up the plane before abandoning the idea. Over time, the Mystère IV has gradually become buried in sand. Divers who frequent the site now struggle to locate it, to the point where some still doubt its existence.