Robert Benoist

Robert Marcel Charles Benoist , (March 20th 1895 with Saint-Beno4it cheese – September 9th 1944 with Buchenwald) was a racing driver of Grand Prix, victorious of the automobile Grand Prix of France in 1925, Grand Prix of Italy, of Spain, of Great Britain and finally world champion in 1927. It was victorious 24 hours of Mans (in team with Jean-Pierre Wimille) in 1937 and became a hero of the Résistance, member of the Special Operations Executive (SOE), like member of network CHESTNUT and chief of the network CLERGYMAN under the name of war “ Lionel ”. He was assassinated by the Nazi S in Buchenwald.

Genealogy

His/her father: Gaston Benoist, gamekeeper of the Baron Henri de Rothschild, member of famous the Family Rothschild

Her mother: Jeanne

Her wife: Paule B.M. Benoist (Auffargis, close to Rambouillet, France).

Biography

Youth

Charles is born with Saint-benoît, close to Rambouillet. At the time of the First World War, it is used in the 131e regiment as infantry, then becomes in the aeronautical soldier. Patented pilot on November 3rd, 1915, it is useful in hunting before becoming instructor of vol.

Career of racing driver

Seeking to find the feelings which it had tested as fighter pilot, Benoist joined the automobile company of Marçay as test pilot, then the Société of the engines Salmson with which it gains races of motor bike before entering to Delage in 1924. The following year, making team with Albert Divo, it gains the automobile Grand Prix of France over the Autodrome of Linas-Montlhéry, during which the celebrates Italian runner , Antonio Ascari, lost the life.

In 1927, at the wheel of its Delage 15-S-8, it gains the Grands Prix of France, of Italy, of Spain, of Great Britain and is finally crowned world champion in 1927. He is the only pilot to have ever gained the whole of these Grand Prix at the time of the same year, which was worth to him to receive the Légion of honor.

When the Delage company withdraws automobile competition, Robert Benoist finds himself without wheel and is engaged as director of the Garage Banville with Paris. He takes part however still in some races for the team Bugatti, finishing second of the Grand Prix of Spain of San Sebastian in 1928. The following year, making team with Attilio Marinoni it gains the 24 hours of Spa in Belgium, over Alfa Romeo. At the end of the season, it withdraws competition until in 1934, and then makes its return in the stable Bugatti. It is soon named director of the department competition and initiates the project Mans of the company. In 1937, making team with Jean-Pierre Wimille, it gains the 24 hours of Mans. Following this victory, Benoist withdraws continuous competition but to direct the department races of Bugatti before being recalled in the Air force to the beginning of the Second world war.

Second world war

Robert Benoist and Jean-Pierre Wimille which had gained together the 24 hours of Mans were friendly of another pilot of Grand Prix, William Grover-Williams. When the Second world war bursts and that France is occupied, the three friends leave for the England where they join the Executive Special Operations as secret agents. Parachuted in France, Benoist organizes cells of sabotage and, with William Grover-Williams, deals with the recovery of parachuting of weapons and ammunition in forest of Rambouillet, which it stores in his house of Auffargis from where it organizes their distribution.

In June 1943, the network " Prosper" with Paris crumbles, with the arrest of its chiefs, Francis Suttill and Andrée Borrel, and of a great quantity of agents. In August, the house of Benoist is put at bag by Gestapo and Grover-Williams is captured (it will be carried out with Sachsenhausen). Three days later, Robert Benoist is stopped in Paris. During its transfer to the general headquarter of Gestapo, it jumps of the vehicle and escapes. It is then helped by Resistance to join England.

Benoist is returned to France for one second mission of October 1943 at February 1944, before turning over to London.

It returns then to France, in the area of Nantes, where it works in.liaison.with his colleague of SOE Denise Bloch.

Robert Benoist is stopped the June 18th 1944 and is sent to Buchenwald where he is assassinated by the Nazis on September 9th, 1944.

Military situation

Unit: SOE, section F

Rank: Captain (number 301112)

Recognition

Brookwood Memorial, Surrey, England, panel 21 column 3.
Memorial of Valençay to Valençay in the Indre.

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