GUINGAND (Suzanne) - Lot 77

GUINGAND (Suzanne) L.A.S. addressed to Jacques Mortane. Versailles, September 13, 1918. 2 pp. in-4. Very moving autograph letter from Suzanne Guingand, mother of pilot Gilbert de Guingand, future fighter pilot of the Escadrille des Coqs, who died accidentally a few weeks later, on October 22, 1918. This letter, written shortly before the young aviator's death, is addressed to Jacques Mortane, the famous chronicler and historian of French military aviation. In it, Suzanne Guingand expresses her gratitude for the pages devoted to French pilots in La Guerre aérienne : "Under the pen of the narrator, who has already devoted so many fine pages to our winged glories, the exploits seem to increase tenfold [...]". She recalls with deep emotion reading the accounts devoted to aviator officers, which constantly remind her of her son Gilbert: "[...] a mother who was completely indifferent to her son's prowess [...] it's not me who'll be able to forget you [...]". The letter closes with a particularly touching phrase: "I just wanted to say how very grateful I am. A fine maternal and patriotic account of French aviation in the Great War, written a few weeks before the young pilot's accidental death. A fine piece of aeronautical and human memorabilia.