Antoine de Saint-Exupéry exhibition at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of France and the disappearance of Commander Antoine de Saint-Exupéry from the Mediterranean Sea on July 31, 1944, the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace offers aviation and literature enthusiasts a captivating experience through an exhibition-dossier dedicated to the famous pilot and writer.

Discover the world of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, exploring the diversity of his career as a pilot and its impact on his literary work, as well as the intersections of his life with the history of the Second World War.

The first part of the exhibition traces Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's dual vocation as pilot and writer, highlighting the influence of his aeronautical experiences on his literary work. Visitors will discover his early days with l'Aéropostale, a source of inspiration for his first works in the 1920s and 1930s, as well as his seminal experience during the attempted Paris-Saigon raid. This period had a profound influence on his depiction of the desert, as evidenced by his major work, "Terre des Hommes".
The second part of the exhibition focuses on Saint-Exupéry's military period during the Second World War, notably with Reconnaissance Group II/33, until his tragic death in 1944.

A particularly poignant aspect of the exhibition is the presentation of fragments of the P-38 Lightning, the aircraft in which Saint-Exupéry disappeared on his last mission. These fragments, entrusted to the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace by the DRASSM (département des recherches archéologiques subaquatiques et sous-marines), are the result of years of research, identification and study. Visitors will have the opportunity to discover the scientific principles behind this work, as well as unique pieces such as the landing gear leg and the turbocharger, which enabled the aircraft to be identified.

In partnership with several institutions, including the Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace and the Fondation d'Antoine de Saint-Exupéry pour la Jeunesse, this exhibition offers history, literature and aviation enthusiasts an enriching immersion in the life of this historic figure.

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