André Moynet (July 19, 1921 – May 2, 1993) was a much decorated French wartime fighter pilot who moved on to become a test pilot and an entrepreneur-businessman. He was also a politician.

Biography

Moynet volunteered for military service on 26 December 1939, becoming a fighter pilot. As a member of the Normandie-Niémen squadron he recorded 115 aerial missions accounting for 150 wartime flying hours. He entered politics in 1946 initially as an independent deputy representing Saône-et-Loire. On 12 November 1954, he was appointed a member of the Mendès France government, as a secretary of state and Secretary of State for Sport with responsibility for coordinating the Problems of Youth. Simultaneously he continued his aviation career, as a test pilot, participating in the development of Sud Aviation’s Caravelle. He also did work for

Matra Matra (an acronym for Mécanique Aviation Traction) was a French industrial conglomerate. During its years of operation, it was engaged in a wide range of business activities, primarily focused around automobiles, bicycles, aeronautics and w ...

and even gave his name to the Moynet M.360 Jupiter, a small propeller driven aircraft. Moynet was also instrumental in Matra’s move into the automobile business, being responsible for the conception and development in 1968 of a

Sports prototype A sports prototype, sometimes referred to as simply a prototype, is a type of race car that is used in the highest-level categories of sports car racing. These purpose-built racing cars, unlike street-legal and production-based racing cars, are n ...

which was developed to achieve a class win (1600–2000 cc) at Le Mans in 1975 (drivers:

Michèle Mouton Michèle Mouton (born 23 June 1951) is a French former rally driver. Competing in the World Rally Championship for the Audi factory team, she took four victories and finished runner-up in the drivers' world championship in 1982. Mouton debuted ...

, Marianne Hoepfner and Christine Dacremont). He had previously driven a D.B. to victory in the S750 class at the

1953 24 Hours of Le Mans The 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 21st Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 13 and 14 June 1953, at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans (France). It was also the third round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship. British drivers ...

alongside the D.B. marque's co-founder

René Bonnet René Bonnet ( Vaumas, 27 December 1904 – 13 January 1983) was a French driver and automobile constructor. Early life The young René first learned about machines working with his father, a carpenter. By 1915, with most teachers conscripted, ...

. In 1968 Moynet was appointed as a colonel in the

Air Force An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an ...

. Relocating to the south of the country, he was elected mayor of the small town of Biot in 1971, holding office for a full term until 1977. He died in

Nice Nice ( , ; Niçard dialect, Niçard: , classical norm, or , nonstandard, ; it, Nizza ; lij, Nissa; grc, Νίκαια; la, Nicaea) is the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes departments of France, department in France. The Nice urban unit, agg ...

on 2 May 1993, and his funeral was held in Antibes. He is, however, buried at the cemetery in Biot.

Honours

:• Grand Officer of the

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

:•

Compagnon de la Libération The Order of Liberation (french: Ordre de la Libération) is a French Order which was awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is a very high honour, second only after the ''Légion d’Honneur'' (Legion of Honour) ...

(Decree : 17 November 1945) :• Croix de guerre 1939–1945 :•

Médaille de la Résistance The Resistance Medal (french: Médaille de la Résistance) was a decoration bestowed by the French Committee of National Liberation, based in the United Kingdom, during World War II. It was established by a decree of General Charles de Gaulle on 9 ...

:•

Médaille de l'Aéronautique The Aeronautical Medal (french: "Médaille de l'Aéronautique") is a state decoration of France established by the decree of February 14, 1945. It is awarded to both military personnel and civilians for outstanding accomplishments related to t ...

:• Silver Star (USA) :• Air Medal (USA) :• Order of War for National Salvation (1st, 2nd and 3rd class) (Soviet Union) :• Order of the Red Banner (Soviet Union) :• Medal of the Resistance (Poland) :•

Order of the White Eagle (Serbia) The Royal Order of the White Eagle was a Royal Order in the Kingdom of Serbia (1883–1918) and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918–1945). It continues as a dynastic order, with appointments currently made by Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugosla ...

:• Order of Aeronautical Merit (Brazil)

External links

Bio sur le site de l'Ordre de la Libération

Bibliography

Claude-Henry Leconte, André Moynet, Pilote de combat, Paris, éditions de la pensée moderne, 1955, 222 p. {{DEFAULTSORT:Moynet, Andre 1921 births 1993 deaths People from Saint-Mandé Politicians from Île-de-France National Centre of Independents and Peasants politicians Independent Republicans politicians Deputies of the 1st National Assembly of the French Fourth Republic Deputies of the 2nd National Assembly of the French Fourth Republic Deputies of the 3rd National Assembly of the French Fourth Republic Deputies of the 1st National Assembly of the French Fifth Republic Deputies of the 2nd National Assembly of the French Fifth Republic French racing drivers 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers French military personnel of World War II Companions of the Liberation Grand Officiers of the Légion d'honneur Sportspeople from Val-de-Marne