122 - MERMOZ, Jean

MERMOZ, Jean L.A.S. “Mermoz,” Casablanca, June 14, 1927, to his “Beloved Mother”; 2 pages in-4 and 2 pages in-8 in blue ink (slightly water-stained). Search for Érable’s remains. After discussing accounts and financial problems, he announces: “As soon as I’ve flown a little more—in America and Persia—I’ll settle in Paris, either at Paris-London or at Maison Bréguet, where Denain has offered to get me a position, and this time you’ll come live with me, because, you know, I have absolutely no desire to get married. Aviation is mistress enough for me. […] Colonel Denain is going to introduce me to Bréguet, Pothez, and Renault during my leave, so they’ll give me a racing plane for next year. What luck! […] I would have liked to spend a few days in Lille for the air show. I submitted a request, but unfortunately, two pilots from Dakar are returning early due to poor health, and I was told that, as a result, it’s a shame the air show is in June. As for America, the Aéroplace managers are starting to head out to set up the airfields and hangars. I’ll know where I stand before I go on leave. I’d really like to go as soon as possible. Because after that there will be the Paris-Tehran race, and I hope to participate in it”… During his stay in Juby, he was able to obtain “permission to retrieve the remains of our unfortunate comrade Érable, who was killed along with Gourp, and those of the mechanic Pintado.” The Governor of Juby had denied me this permission six times. I took two Moors with me and landed alone at the site where the tragedy unfolded. Unfortunately, over the past seven months, the unburied bodies had fallen prey to the jackals and hyenas that abound there, and I found only the site itself, with fragments of bones. I found only Érable’s hair, one of his socks, and a piece of his shirt; then, as the Moors approached, I had just enough time to take off again in a hurry. Today I’m going to send the few mementos I was able to find to his mother. She’ll always have a little piece of him. I got into a bit of trouble, just for form’s sake, for taking an unnecessary risk, but it was something that had been close to my heart for far too long”…. Correspondence, No. 116. Source: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936); - Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955); - Then passed down through the family