227 - MERMOZ, Jean

MERMOZ, Jean L.A.S. “Jean Gilberte,” Marseille, November 26, 1930, to his “dear little Mom”; 4 pages, in-8 format, on Hôtel de Noailles letterhead. Seaplane test flights. He has had “quite a bit of work these days with my seaplane test flights, leaving at 9 a.m. and often returning at 6 p.m.” He is concerned about his mother’s health; she is scheduled to return for a health treatment at La Bourboule. He assures her of all his affection and that of Gilberte. A mother “remains the mother of the little child we once were, and the tenderness we feel for her withstands all the cruelty, all the disappointments, all the suffering”… He doesn’t yet know “the date on which I’ll be able to make my crossing. My test runs will be practically finished shortly. All that will remain is to wait for authorization from the Ministry… who knows if it will come? I’m waiting for Daurat to go to Saint-Raphaël with him in the seaplane. The Pothez isn’t running: constant engine trouble. Martinoff is in despair… naturally. Guillaumet and Étienne arrived yesterday to take their seaplane pilot’s license exam. So the good team is now back together in Marseille”… Source: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936); - Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955); - Then passed down through the family