189 - MERMOZ, Jean

MERMOZ, Jean L.A.S. “Ton Jean,” Santiago, Chile, March 4, 1929, to his “Beloved Mom”; 2 pages, in-4 format, on Hotel Victoria letterhead, Santiago. Crossing the Andes with the Count of La Vaulx; plan for an expedition to break the world distance record. “A few words from Santiago, Chile, where I have just arrived after a 3,000-km journey with the Count of La Vaulx across Patagonia, the Southern Cordillera, and Chile. […] Barring any orders to the contrary, I’m leaving for France on March 23 […] My plane has been sold to me, but on the condition that I make a first flight from Paris to Buenos Aires, if possible nonstop. Perhaps I won’t make it that far, but I will at least break the world distance record. Then, if I succeed, the Bernard Company will have me fly from Paris to New York at their expense. I accept, of course. So much so that next month I hope to have the pleasure of kissing you. I’m leaving the day after tomorrow for Buenos Aires, still with the Count de La Vaulx, bound for Peru and Buenos Aires. Then I’ll prepare my escape. I’ll return there on a flight in early May. The entire management is in a panic, as you can imagine. Mr. de Sieyès, the big boss, telegraphed Paris and made me promise that I wouldn’t leave the Company. They couldn’t believe it!”… Source: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936); - Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955); - Then passed down through the family