Nationality French Name Andre Moynet | Role Politician Died 1993, Nice, France | |
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Born 19 July 1921
Saint-Mande (Val-de-Marne), France ( 1921-07-19 ) Political party Republicains independants (1946–1955)
Centre national des independants et paysans (1956–1962)
Republicains independants (1962–1966) | ||
André Moynet (1921–1993) was a much decorated wartime fighter pilot who moved on to become a test pilot and an entrepreneur-businessman. He was also a politician.
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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)
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.