137 - MERMOZ, Jean

MERMOZ, Jean L.A.S. “Jean,” Toulouse, October 3, 1927, to his “Dearest Mom”; 2 pages, in-4 format, on letterhead from the Grands Cafés de Toulouse. Test flights for night flights. “I had an excellent trip, and since then I haven’t had a moment to spare. As soon as I arrived, I flew five consecutive flights on our new aircraft, and by 10 p.m. that evening I was conducting night flight tests on those same aircraft. You can imagine—after a night on the train, I was in great shape!! Ever since I arrived, I haven’t stopped. Day and night flights. I might even be doing a night flight from Toulouse to Alicante and back soon. The Director told me he doesn’t yet know the exact date of our departure, as there’s been a slight delay due to disagreements between Latécoère and Bouilloux-Lafont regarding the equipment to be used in America. [...] Life is good. I’m so happy to be flying again in such an exciting way! I wonder what I’ll do when I can no longer fly. What a void! Just coming back to the hangars, breathing in that wonderful smell of burnt oil and gasoline, and I don’t feel like the same man anymore! I feel completely reborn, and my enthusiasm knows no bounds! I might not be able to visit you until late October. I also have my navigator’s exam to take. Once my night training is complete, I’ll ask for eight days off”… Correspondence, No. 124. Source: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936); - Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955); - Later passed down within the family