Philatelic document - Poste Aérienne Casablanca

On June 1, 1925, the first Casablanca-Dakar airmail service was launched. This unprecedented step contributed to the organization of a commercial air route between France and South America via North Africa, a route developed by industrialist and aircraft manufacturer Pierre-Georges Latécoère in 1917. While regular airmail links between Toulouse and Barcelona, then Rabat and Casablanca in Morocco, were operating regularly, the commercial legitimacy of "La Ligne" required an extension to Senegal. By March 1925, the scouting had been completed, and the five airplanes were ready to fly the 2,760 km route between Casablanca and Dakar. Two aircraft were to fly the route: the Breguet XIV n°161, registration F-AEEL, from Casablanca to Agadir, then the Breguet XIV n°217, registration F-AFEJ, from Agadir to Dakar; they were accompanied by a backup Breguet - a precaution demanded by Didier Daurat, the Operations Manager of Lignes Aériennes Latécoère. Pilot Émile Lécrivain and mechanic Jean Lavidalie form the crew chosen to carry the mail. They were assisted by pilots Georges Drouin and Edmond Lassalle. Despite a number of mechanical problems, the mail arrived on June 3; the return flight took place from June 6 to 8: "La Ligne" was extended to Dakar and became a regular service. The French Post Office, which had encouraged this new airmail link, anticipated its success by publishing a decree dated May 28, 1925, fixing the air surcharges applicable to correspondence between France and Dakar. In recognition of his commitment to French commercial aviation, Pierre-Georges Latécoère was made Commander of the Legion of Honor on August 23, 1925. Laurent Albaret Historian, administrator of the Fondation Latécoère

Timbre (Mixte / Offset - Taille-douce) : création James Prunier, mise en page Nicolette Humbert et gravure Line Filhon d’ap. photo de la Fondation Latécoère. Document philatélique et cachet d'oblitération: création Jame's Prunier et mise en page Nicolette Humbert d'après photos de la Fondation Latécoère. Texte : Laurent Albaret, Historien, administrateur de la Fondation Latécoère.