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.
André Moynet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the National Assembly of France representing Saône-et-Loire | |
| In office 1946–1967 | |
| Secretary of State for Sport with responsibility for coordinating the Problems of Youth | |
| In office 12 November 1954 – 1955 or 1956 | |
| Mayor of Biot | |
| In office 1971–1977 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 July 1921 Saint-Mandé (Val-de-Marne), France |
| Died | 2 May 1993 (aged 71) Nice (Alpes-Maritimes), France |
| Political party | Républicains indépendants (1946–1955) Centre national des indépendants et paysans (1956–1962) Républicains indépendants (1962–1966) |
Biography
editMoynet 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 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 which was developed to achieve a class win (1600–2000 cc) at Le Mans in 1975 (drivers: Michèle Mouton, 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 alongside the D.B. marque's co-founder René Bonnet.
In 1968 Moynet was appointed as a colonel in the Air Force.
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 on 2 May 1993, and his funeral was held in Antibes. He is, however, buried at the cemetery in Biot.
Honours
edit- • Grand Officer of the Légion d'honneur
- • Compagnon de la Libération (Decree : 17 November 1945)
- • Croix de guerre 1939–1945
- • Médaille de la Résistance
- • Médaille de l'Aéronautique
- • 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)
- • Order of Aeronautical Merit (Brazil)
External links
editBibliography
editClaude-Henry Leconte, André Moynet, Pilote de combat, Paris, éditions de la pensée moderne, 1955, 222 p.