1901 |
Born in Aubenton, France. |
Mermoz: A Man of Extraordinary Courage
Mermoz was very well-known in South America, where he had various things - including an appetizer - named after him. He was, however, no more than an average pilot. I believe Aéropostal could count on more skilful pilots such as Guillaumet and Delaunay. And yet Mermoz had extraordinary courage, which he demonstrated during night flights and especially during the South Atlantic crossings. The France-South America line has been named the Mermoz Line ever since.
Paul Vachet, Icare, Revue de l'aviation française, Volume 1.
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Mermoz and his team
From left to right: Mermoz, Gimié and Dabry a few hours before they flew towards Natal in the Laté 28 hydroplane, Comte-de-la-Vaulx.
Courtesy of Musée Air France |
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1921 |
Joins the army as a registered pilot. |
1923 |
Resigns from the army. Looks for a pilot's job in a private company. With little money, lives from hand to mouth. |
1924 |
Enters LAL and is given responsibility for the Toulouse-Barcelona section on a Bréguet 14. In his own words, his life as an outcast ends. |
1926 |
Works as a pilot on the Casablanca-Dakar section. |
1926 |
After a forced landing in the desert, is taken prisoner by Moors, who, in exchange for a ransom, free him after a few days. |
1927 |
Named Head Pilot, moves to Buenos Aires. |
1928 |
Successfully completes the first night flight on the Buenos Aires-Rio section. |
1929 |
Flying a Potez 25 with Henri Guillaumet, officially opens the Andes line. |
1930 |
Plays a role in the first postal link across the South Atlantic on the Comte de la Vaulx, a Laté 28, along with Gimié and Dabry. Breaks a new hydroplane record for flying the longest distance in a straight line. |
1935 |
Appointed General Inspector for Air France. |
1936 |
Vanishes in his hydroplane Croix-du-Sud, 800 kilometres off the coast of Africa. |