Léon and Robert MORANE
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Aviation pioneers, aircraft manufacturers.
Léon and Robert Morane crashed together in October 1910, during a race, and came through: from that accident a company would be born. Léon held pilot's licence number 54, when the whole world counted only a few dozen; in 1911 he went into partnership with Raymond Saulnier. Robert would test the firm's aircraft before building them, and would outlive his brother by fifty years.
The story
In October 1910, in the race for the Michelin trophy, Léon and Robert Morane crashed their Blériot shortly after take-off. Both came through it — and out of that accident came a company: it was in hospital, during his convalescence, that Léon received a visit from Raymond Saulnier.
Léon Florentin Morane, born in Paris on 11 April 1885, had taken pilot's licence no. 54 in that same year 1910, when the world counted a few dozen licensed pilots, and had carried the speed record to 108 kph on a Blériot. He went into partnership with Raymond Saulnier: the Société Morane-Saulnier was created on 10 October 1911. A chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, he died on 19 October 1918, aged thirty-three.
Robert Charles Morane, born on 10 March 1886, became the firm's first test pilot. A commander of the Légion d'honneur and holder of the gold medals of the Aéronautique and of the Aéro-Club de France, he died on 28 August 1968 — fifty years after his brother.
Their elder brother Lucien Léon, an engineer who died in 1930, lies with them. The inscription sets out their service records and their decorations, and the dedication to the two airmen ends on four words: “Ils ont conquis le Ciel” — they have conquered the sky.
The grave
A family grave under the heading “Sépulture F. MORANE Jne”, whose inscription is one of the most explicit in the cemetery: “Ici reposent, deux pionniers de l'âge de l'air, Léon Florentin MORANE, né à Paris le 11 avril 1885, décédé à Paris le 19 octobre 1918, chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur […] et son frère, Robert Charles MORANE, né à Paris le 10 mars 1886, décédé à Paris le 28 aout 1968, commandeur de la Légion d'Honneur […] Ils ont conquis le Ciel.” — here lie two pioneers of the age of the air, Léon Florentin Morane, born in Paris on 11 April 1885, died in Paris on 19 October 1918, Knight of the Legion of Honour, and his brother Robert Charles Morane, born in Paris on 10 March 1886, died in Paris on 28 August 1968, Commander of the Legion of Honour; they conquered the Sky. Their elder brother Lucien Léon (1871-1930), an engineer, also rests there. Fifty years separate the two deaths.
On site, do not miss
The epitaph calls them “deux pionniers de l'âge de l'air” — two pioneers of the age of the air —, lists their decorations and ends with four words: “Ils ont conquis le Ciel” — they conquered the Sky.
Visitors' questions
Where is the Morane brothers' grave?
In Division 2, avenue du Boulevard, first row, a few minutes from the main gate. The grave is headed “Sépulture F. MORANE Jne” and brings together three brothers: the two airmen and the engineer Lucien.
Joseph OllerWhat is Morane-Saulnier?
The aircraft company founded on 10 October 1911 by Léon Morane and his friend Raymond Saulnier, after the Michelin trophy crash. Robert Morane was its first test pilot; the marque built aeroplanes for half a century.
Ernest ArchdeaconWhat record did Léon Morane set?
The world speed record, which he took to 108 kph in 1910 on a Blériot machine. That same year he had been granted pilot's licence no. 54 — aviation then counted a few dozen licensed pilots in the whole world.
The Nieport brothersWhat does the epitaph say?
It names “two pioneers of the age of the air”, sets out their service records and their decorations, then closes, for the two of them, on four words: “Ils ont conquis le Ciel.” — they conquered the sky. Léon was a Knight of the Legion of Honour, Robert a Commander.
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