Seeschlacht bei Kap Teulada
In autumn 1940, Chiappe was made high-commissioner of France in the Levant. The aircraft taking him to Lebanon was shot down by mistake by Italian air force taking part in the Battle of Cape Spartivento near Sardinia. The pilot, Henri Guillaumet, the other members of the crew including , and the two passengers, Chiappe and his leader of the cabinet, were killed.