During his extensive career as an airmail pilot with Aropostale, Antoine served as the companys station manager in barren Villa Bens. During the Second World War, although he was older than most, Saint-Exupry joined the Free French Air Force. On July 31, 1944, as fate would have it, he disappeared on a reconnaissance mission flying a P-38 Lightning over the Mediterranean, somewhere south of Marseille. The body of a French pilot was found a few days after Antoines disappearance and was buried in Carqueiranne, France. After his death he became an icon and national hero throughout France. For a fleeting moment I wondered what anyone could do to pass the time of day at such a remote location. Antoine de Saint-Exupry used his time to write books!Today the word Aropostale takes on an entirely new meaning. It has become the name of an American retailer of casual apparel for young people. Go figure.