281 - MERMOZ, Jean

MERMOZ, Jean L.A.S. “Jean,” Dakar, Monday, the 17th [February 1936], to his “Beloved Mother”; 1¼ pages, in-4 format. Following the death of his trusted mechanic Alexandre Collenot (who went missing at sea on February 10 during a flight from Natal to Dakar). He is devastated: “I cannot believe that my dear old Collenot is gone, and yet I have no hope left. They flew into a waterspout; I’m becoming more and more certain of it: a German seaplane just disappeared in roughly the same spot, under the same conditions, forty-eight hours ago—no news since. I’ve delayed my departure to ride out the bad weather during the day; Guillaumet has postponed his departure from Natal until tomorrow morning. Don’t worry, dear Mom: I’ve been talking about the bad weather over the South Atlantic for a long time, but no one ever wanted to believe it! Unfortunately, these days, to believe in someone or something, it takes an accident: understanding from officials—whether official or unofficial—always comes at too high a price. I’m leaving on the Centaure and heading back on the Santos-Dumont; I’ll then return on the mail plane to Casa”… On his way back to Paris, he’ll stop in Montélimar “to see Madame Collenot: I want to take care of her and her children”… Source: - Jean Mermoz (1901–1936); - Gabrielle Gillet-Mermoz (1880–1955); - Then passed down through the family