Société Latham

Société Latham was a French aeronautical construction company established in 1916 at Caudebec-en-Caux, on the banks of the Seine. Its principal activity was the design and construction of seaplanes for the French Navy, placing the company within the formative period of French naval aviation and interwar aircraft manufacturing. The business was founded by Jean Latham, a cousin of the aviator Hubert Latham, and operated from a site associated with the Seine’s industrial and maritime environment. The company’s best-known aircraft was the Latham 47, a large seaplane prototype. Its historical reputation is closely linked to the aircraft’s disappearance in 1928 while carrying the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen during an attempted rescue mission connected with the search for Umberto Nobile, whose airship expedition had ended in disaster in the Arctic. The loss made the Latham 47 part of the history of polar exploration as well as aviation, although the company’s broader business was the construction of aircraft rather than expedition services. Société Latham also produced or participated in the development of other aircraft, including the Latham 43. In August 1933, the company launched the Blériot 5190 seaplane, named Santos-Dumont. The aircraft was fitted with Hispano-Suiza engines with a combined output of 650 horsepower. This program illustrates the company’s position within a wider French aviation-industrial network, where specialist manufacturers and larger aircraft groups collaborated or were later reorganized. The company’s work remained based in Caudebec-en-Caux until a restructuring in 1951 involving Latham, Bréguet, and Potez. Following that reorganization, Société Latham was renamed REVIMA, or Révision de Matériel Aéronautique, and merged into the Chargeurs Réunis group. The original Société Latham therefore no longer exists as an independent operating company. Its legacy survives through the aircraft associated with its name, the history of French seaplane construction, and the memorial established at Caudebec-en-Caux in 1931 for the Amundsen rescue mission. The memorial was created by sculptor Robert Delandre and architect Léon Rey.

Société Latham was founded in 1916 by Jean Latham at Caudebec-en-Caux in Normandy, on the Seine. Jean Latham was a cousin of Hubert Latham, the French aviation pioneer. The company entered the French aeronautical manufacturing sector during a period when seaplanes were important for maritime patrol, naval reconnaissance, transport, and long-distance exploration. Its documented specialization was the construction of seaplanes for the French Navy. The company developed several aircraft associated with the Latham name. Among them was the Latham 43, while the Latham 47 became the company’s most historically prominent design. A prototype of the Latham 47 disappeared in 1928 while carrying Roald Amundsen during an attempt to locate or assist survivors connected with Umberto Nobile’s Arctic expedition. The incident linked Société Latham’s aircraft with one of the most famous search-and-rescue efforts in early polar aviation. The disappearance also helped make the aircraft a lasting subject in accounts of Amundsen, Nobile, and the development of long-range seaplanes. Société Latham continued its manufacturing work at Caudebec-en-Caux. In August 1933, it launched the Blériot 5190 seaplane, christened Santos-Dumont. The aircraft used Hispano-Suiza engines with an aggregate output of 650 horsepower. The program demonstrates that Société Latham’s activities extended beyond aircraft bearing the Latham name and that its work intersected with the broader French aircraft industry. The company’s independent existence ended in the postwar period. In 1951, Latham, Bréguet, and Potez underwent a restructuring. As part of this reorganization, Société Latham was renamed REVIMA, short for Révision de Matériel Aéronautique, and merged into the Chargeurs Réunis group. This transition marked the replacement of the original Latham corporate identity by a reorganized aeronautical enterprise. Société Latham is consequently treated as a defunct historical manufacturer rather than a contemporary aerospace brand. A memorial associated with the 1928 disappearance was established at Caudebec-en-Caux in 1931. The monument was designed by sculptor Robert Delandre and architect Léon Rey. Together with the surviving references to the Latham 43, Latham 47, and Blériot 5190, the memorial forms part of the company’s historical footprint. The company is chiefly remembered for French naval seaplane construction, the Latham 47’s role in the Amundsen rescue mission, and its eventual absorption into the postwar REVIMA structure.

• 1951

  Restructured and renamed REVIMA

  [1]Société Lathamen.wikipedia.org

  A restructuring involving Latham, Bréguet, and Potez resulted in Société Latham being renamed REVIMA and merged into the Chargeurs Réunis group.

• 1933

  Blériot 5190 Santos-Dumont launched

  [1]Société Lathamen.wikipedia.org

  In August, Société Latham launched the Blériot 5190 seaplane, named Santos-Dumont and powered by Hispano-Suiza engines with a combined rating of 650 horsepower.

• 1931

  Memorial established at Caudebec-en-Caux

  [1]Société Lathamen.wikipedia.org

  A memorial connected with the 1928 disappearance was installed at Caudebec-en-Caux, designed by Robert Delandre and Léon Rey.

• 1928

  Latham 47 disappears during Arctic rescue mission

  [1]Société Lathamen.wikipedia.org

  A Latham 47 prototype disappeared while carrying Roald Amundsen during a search mission connected with the disappearance of Umberto Nobile’s expedition.

• 1916

  Company established at Caudebec-en-Caux

  [1]Société Lathamen.wikipedia.org

  Jean Latham founded Société Latham at Caudebec-en-Caux on the Seine, establishing a French aeronautical manufacturer focused on seaplanes.

A historical French aerospace manufacturer specializing in seaplanes and naval aviation aircraft, with particular recognition for the Latham 47 and its connection to the 1928 Arctic rescue mission.

• Seaplane

  Latham 43

  The Latham 43 was an aircraft developed within Société Latham’s seaplane manufacturing portfolio. Available reference material identifies it as one of the company’s aircraft types, but does not provide sufficient technical detail to describe its configuration, operators, production quantity, or service history reliably.

• Long-range seaplane prototype

  Latham 47

  The Latham 47 was Société Latham’s best-known aircraft design and existed as a prototype associated with long-range maritime and exploration activity. In 1928, an aircraft of this type disappeared while carrying Roald Amundsen during an Arctic rescue search related to Umberto Nobile. That event made the Latham 47 an important artifact in both French aviation history and the history of polar exploration.

• Seaplane · 1933

  Blériot 5190 Santos-Dumont

  The Blériot 5190 was a seaplane launched by Société Latham in August 1933 and christened Santos-Dumont. It was equipped with Hispano-Suiza engines whose combined output was stated as 650 horsepower. The aircraft represents the company’s participation in French seaplane development beyond aircraft carrying the Latham name.

• 1951

  Reorganization into REVIMAStrategy

  Background

  Postwar restructuring brought Société Latham into a broader reorganization involving Latham, Bréguet, and Potez.

  Action taken

  The company was renamed REVIMA, meaning Révision de Matériel Aéronautique, and merged into the Chargeurs Réunis group.

  Aftermath

  Société Latham ceased to operate as an independent company under its original name, while its activities continued within the reorganized aeronautical structure.

  Source

1. 1Société Lathamen.wikipedia.org