Jean de Suarez d'Aulan (20 November 1900 – 8 October 1944) was a French aristocrat, aviator, auto racer, bobsledder, businessman and soldier.
Background
Jean de Suarez d'Aulan was the son of Marquis François de Suarez d'Aulan (1864–1910) and his wife Madeleine de Geoffre de Chabrignac. Jean inherited a substantial sum of money, estimated to be near 500 million
Fr, which made him one of the wealthiest aristocrats in Europe. The ‘Suarez’ name originates from the Spanish aristocracy, which held the principle title Duke of Feria among other Spanish titles, while the ‘Aulan’ part of the name originates from the French family seat of the name which is attached to the titles of Marquis and Count. Moran Suarez, from which the Suarez d'Aulan are directly descended, was one of forty knights who captured the city of Xores (Jerez de la Frontera), on the Moors, in 1266. Jean d'Aulan was also the grandson of Marquis Arthur de Suarez d'Aulan, whose second wife was the American heiress Norma Christmas, of
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez ( ) is the only city in and the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 14,520 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located on the Mississippi River across from Vidalia, Louisiana, Natchez was ...
.
[Henderson R. Historic building could become wedding chapel, conference center nternet lace unknown Mississippi Business Journal; 2003 Jul 14 ited 2023 May 02 Available from: https://msbusiness.com/2003/07/historic-building-could-become-wedding-chapel-conference-center/]
Sports career
Bobsleigh
As a bobsledder, d'Aulan won a bronze medal in the four-man event at the 1934 FIBT World Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Competing in four Winter Olympics, his best finish was fourth in the four-man event at the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix.
[Jean d'Aulan Olympic Results nternet lace unknown Sports Reference; ate unknown ited 2023 May 02 Available from: https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/da/jean-da-ulan-1.html]
Auto racing
D'Aulan drove an EHP in the 1925 24 Hours of Le Mans race with René Dely, finishing 14th.
[1925 24 Hours of Le Mans nternet lace unknown Racing Sports Cars; ate unknown ited 2023 May 02 Available from: http://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Le_Mans-1925-06-20-2591.html]
Aviation
As an aviator, d'Aulan won rally events in Egypt in 1937 and in France in 1938.
Military career
During
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, d'Aulan fought in the 5th Battalion in the
infantry
Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...
, enlisting in 1918.
After France fell in 1940, d'Aulan joined the Free French Forces and was assigned to the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
as a fighter pilot as a
second lieutenant.
D'Aulan flew various fighter aircraft, including the
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allies of World War II, Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. It was the only British fighter produced conti ...
, and participated in several air operations over Europe.
On 8 October 1944, while flying his
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter, and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bombe ...
on a mission over Germany, he was shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and killed.
He was posthumously awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Légion d'honneur, among other military honors.
D'Aulan's death was a significant loss to the French Resistance and the Free French Forces, and he was mourned by many in France and beyond.
In his memory, several streets and public places in France have been named after him.
Despite his short life, Jean d'Aulan made significant contributions to sports, aviation, and military service. He was a versatile athlete and a skilled aviator who competed at the highest levels in his fields. As a soldier, he made the ultimate sacrifice for his country and remains a symbol of courage and patriotism.
Personal life
Jean de Suarez d'Aulan married in 1926 Anne Marie ''Yolande'' Kunkelmann (1904–1989), daughter of the founder of
Piper-Heidsieck Champagne. Together, they had four children: Francois (10th Marquis of Aulan), Catherine (married to
Claude Taittinger), Guilaine (married to Count de Poix) and Philippe.
During the summer, the Marquesses d'Aulan resided at their ancestral estate, the Château d'Aulan, located in the Department of Drôme in the southern region of France. In the winter season, they occupied their elegant town residence in the fashionable precincts of Paris.
His widow Yolande de Suarez d'Aulan married in 1946 General Guy d'Alès de Corbet (1895–1972).
References
External links
1936 bobsleigh two-man results1925 Le Mans 24 hour race classification
Portrait
* Wallenchinsky, David. (1984). "Bobsled: Four-man." In ''The Complete Book of the Olympics: 1896–1980''. New York: Penguin Books. p. 559.
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aulan, Jean de Suarez d'
French people of Spanish descent
French people of American descent
1900 births
1944 deaths
Bobsledders at the 1924 Winter Olympics
Bobsledders at the 1928 Winter Olympics
Bobsledders at the 1932 Winter Olympics
Bobsledders at the 1936 Winter Olympics
French male bobsledders
Olympic bobsledders for France
French military aviators
French Royal Air Force pilots of World War II
French military personnel killed in World War II
French military personnel of World War I
French Air Force personnel of World War II
French racing drivers
24 Hours of Le Mans drivers
20th-century French sportsmen