Original watercolor and gouache of the Famous Laté 300 Croix du Sud piloted by Jean Mermoz

Aviation History - December 7, 1936. On December 7, 1936, French aviator Jean Mermoz embarked on a new crossing of the Atlantic Ocean to deliver mail to the state capital of Rio Grande do Norte : Natal, Brazil.

But unfortunately, his 25th crossing will turn out badly and like other pilots before him, the Atlantic will be his burial. Shortly before the stroke of 7 a.m., Jean Mermoz takes off from Dakar in Senegal, installed at the controls of the Southern Cross, namely a Laté 300 seaplane, aboard which also took place Alexandre Pichodou, Henri Ézan, Edgar Cruvelhier and Jean Lavidalie, respectively pilot, navigator, wireless operator and mechanic, an experienced crew on this line.

The anxiety quickly mounts, the crew who reported a problem with one of its four engines no longer responds and this, since the end of the morning, around 11 a.m., the seaplane was then flying at 700 kilometers southwest of Dakar. Searches to try to locate the device will remain in vain…

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