73 - MERMOZ, Jean

MERMOZ, Jean 12 letters “Jean,” 1923 and undated, to his “Beloved Mom”; 32 pages, in-8 or in-4 format. During his postings in Essey-lès-Nancy and then at the Basse-Yütz camp in Thionville. Paris, May 10. Staying in Ferrières with his friend Coursault. While returning his bike to Pontoise, he saw his dog: “My old Rip gave me such a warm welcome—that’s all I’ll say”… Nancy, June 16. He’s on duty, fed up with military service: “But what on earth am I doing in this mess? On top of that, we’re poorly fed—sheep and beans, beans and sheep, and beef only once in a while. I’m learning not to be picky anymore. I’ve submitted my request to be transferred to Morocco. My squadron commander has given me a favorable recommendation. […] We haven’t flown yet. It’s raining nonstop. […] How glad I’ll be to leave the military”… – “My squadron is a squadron of aces; the captain is very classy, but we don’t fly much”… – June 28. “I’ve flown quite a bit these past few days, thankfully. I plan to fly at night tomorrow if the weather holds”… – August 9. He hopes to see his “dear Mom” in Mainbressy. – Monday: “I’m back on duty. I found the barracks even more dreary this morning when I arrived—inevitable after two days that were too good and too short”… Thionville – September 10. “I got back just in time to start the week. I hope it ends without any disciplinary confinement. I felt a little down this morning, as I always do after coming back from leave”… – “I’m in confinement right now. One mess follows another […] I’m being foolishly punished for some silly duty-related issue […] Everything comes to an end: “they” won’t be able to hold me back much longer. I’m applying to join the night fighter unit, a special squadron not affiliated with any regiment that’s being formed in Metz”… – October 4. “I fly for an hour and a half every day. I’m perfecting all kinds of aerobatics”… – December 13. “The commander has recommended me for a six-month leave of absence ex officio, due to my good service record. […] I’m waiting for a reply from Latécoère, to whom I wrote on Monday. The expected reply will determine quite a few things”… [Mainbressy]. Staying with his grandparents: “Disgusting weather. Nonstop downpour”… (Mrs. Gillet then takes over the letter). Attached is a handwritten letter “Jean” to his mother, before leaving “on a leg of the journey,” thanking her for her good wishes and asking for a piece of fabric to repair his green suit (2 pp., in-8); and a telegram, [March 12, 1923]: “Disembarking today, will arrive tomorrow morning”… Provenance: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936); - Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955); - Then passed down through the family