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 Saône-et-Loire (; Arpitan: ''Sona-et-Lêre'') is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in France. It is named after the rivers Saône and Loire, between which it lies, in the country's central-eastern part. Saône-et-Loire is B ...

. 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 Sud Aviation (, 'Southern Aviation') was a French state-owned aircraft manufacturer, originating in the merger of Sud-Est ( SNCASE, or ''Société nationale des constructions aéronautiques du sud-est'') and Sud-Ouest ( SNCASO or ''Société nat ...

’s Caravelle. He also did work for

Matra Matra (an acronym for Mécanique Aviation Traction) was a major French industrial Conglomerate (company), conglomerate. Its business activities covered a wide range of industries, notably aerospace manufacturer, aerospace, defence industry, def ...

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 simply as a prototype, is a type of Auto racing, race car that is used in high-level categories of sports car racing. They are purpose-built auto-sports race cars, as opposed to production-car based or s ...

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

Michèle Mouton Michèle Hélène Raymonde 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 198 ...

, 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 1953 World Sportscar Championship season, F.I.A. World Sp ...

alongside the D.B. marque's co-founder René Bonnet. 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 army aviati ...

. 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 ( ; ) is a city in and the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly one million Antibes Antibes (, , ; ) is a seaside city in the Alpes-Maritimes Departments of France, department in Southeastern France. It is located on the French Riviera between Cannes and Nice; its cape, the Cap d'Antibes, along with Cap Ferrat in Saint-Jean-Ca ...

. 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 ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

:• Compagnon de la Libération (Decree : 17 November 1945) :•

Croix de guerre 1939–1945 Croix (French for "cross") may refer to: Belgium * Croix-lez-Rouveroy, a village in municipality of Estinnes in the province of Hainaut France * Croix, Nord, in the Nord department * Croix, Territoire de Belfort, in the Territoire de Belfort d ...

:•

Médaille de la Résistance The Resistance Medal (, ) 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 February 1943 "to recognize the ...

:•

Médaille de l'Aéronautique The Aeronautical Medal () 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 the field of aeronautics. Originally e ...

:• 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 Order of the White Eagle () was a state 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 Yugoslavia. ...

:• 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 Officers of the Legion of Honour Sportspeople from Val-de-Marne