born June 29, 1900, Lyon, France
died July 31, 1944, in flight over the Mediterranean
French aviator and writer.
He flew as a commercial, test, and military reconnaissance pilot and was a publicity attaché for Air France and a reporter. He died when he was shot down on a wartime Air Force mission over the Mediterranean. His writings exalt perilous adventure and aviation, as in the novels Southern Mail (1929) and Night Flight (1931). Wind, Sand, and Stars (1939) is a lyrical memoir with philosophical musings and meditations. The Little Prince (1943) is a child's fable for adults.