197 - MERMOZ, Jean

MERMOZ, Jean 2 handwritten letters signed “Jean,” from Buenos Aires, December 12, [1929] and undated, to his “Dearest Mom”; 1½ pages on Via Aéropostal tissue paper (torn but complete), and 2 pages in-4 on Aeroposta paper. Plan to cross the North Atlantic. December 12. He is waiting for his replacement to arrive so he can leave and go give his mother a hug. “They intend to have me attempt the North Atlantic crossing; naturally, I’ll only do it if I deem the aircraft adequate—you can imagine!! and absolutely certain of reaching my destination… otherwise, I’ll focus my efforts on the Paris–B. Aires route, which I know inside and out, to try to beat Costes’ record… and alone… à la Lindbergh. Anyway, I’m so hopeful of reaching my destination soon!! […] I’m leaving tomorrow for Rio to pick up the big boss, Bouilloux-Lafont, who’s just arrived from France: my life right now is extremely hectic. People see me all over South America—from the northeast to the west—in my red taxi, the same model I plan to use for my expedition, much to the dismay of a little girl I know well”… “I’m heading out again tonight on an expedition to Chile and Bolivia with the company’s CEO and the radio director, Serres (the same one who spent four months in Mauritania), who have just arrived from France. […] Furthermore, the Director is beginning to initiate me into the intricacies of operations at the request of Mr. Bouilloux-Lafont, who wants to give me a new division to manage as soon as I’m ready. I’ve agreed to take it on within two years. I’ll be approaching thirty by then, and this will give me a permanent position that will still allow me, despite everything, to fly actively as a pilot—but on my own terms. It will be to the Americas or Indochina. In the meantime, Latécoère is going to provide me with an aircraft to fly from Toulouse to Buenos Aires non-stop, if possible. It is expected to be ready in three months. I will then make a few crossings in a seaplane from Marseille to Algiers, and then attempt the first aerial mail crossing from Marseille to Rio de Janeiro”… Enclosed is a letter signed “Ton Jean,” Buenos Aires 192, addressed to “My dearest little Mom” (1 p., in-8 format, on Compagnie Générale d’Entreprises Aéronautiques letterhead). He would write to her upon his return from Chile, “because I’m going to fly from Rio to Buenos Aires and Santiago, Chile, without stopping here on the way back”… Provenance: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936); - Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955); - Then passed down within the family