André Moynet

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 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[]

• 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[]

• 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.