Jean DE SUAREZ D'AULAN

Jean Aulan inherited 500 million dollars, which made him one of the wealthiest men in Europe. As a young man he was university champion in swimming and French national champion in diving. With his bobsled crew, he was a four-time French champion and won a bronze medal with the four-man bob at the 1934 World Championships. He twice participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and as an aviator won air rallies in Egypt, Germany and France.

As a president of the Society of the wines of Champagne Piper Heidsieck in Reims, during the occupation, the Marquis de Suarez d’Aulan hid parachuted weapons in the cellars. Denounced to the Gestapo, he still managed an escape to North Africa. In the famous Group II/5 he became the oldest World War II fighter pilot. After several missions over Germany as a second lieutenant, he was shot down by a Messerschmitt aircraft. Marquis de Suarez d’Aulan was appointed Chevalier of the Legion of Honour and was awarded the Military Cross.