Mastodawn

Mar 20, 1895: On this date Robert Benoist was born. French Grand Prix motor racing driver & WW2 war hero. He & fellow race car drivers Jean-Pierre Wimille & William Grover-Williams, fled to Britain after France was invaded. All 3 joined the Special Operations Executive. (1/4)

#WW2 #SOE #France #FSection

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Benoist

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Minnesota Spy Club 2d ago

William Grover-Williams & Robert Benoist joined the PROSPER circuit. The circuit was penetrated by the Gestapo in June, 1943. Benoist’s home was raided and Grover-Williams arrested (and he was later executed at Sachsenhausen). (2/4)

#WW2 #SOE #France #FSection

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Minnesota Spy Club 2d ago

Benoist was arrested 3 days later. In transit to Gestapo headquarters, he lept from the moving vehicle & escaped. He successfully exfiltrated to the UK & returned to France for 2 further missions. He was arrested June 18, 1944, shipped to Buchenwald, & executed on Sept 13. (3/4)

#WW2 #SOE #France #FSection

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Minnesota Spy Club

For more on Robert Benoist, see military historian Alan Malcher’s post here: (4/4)

#WW2 #SOE #France #FSection

https://alanmalcher.com/2021/01/30/robert-benoist-soe-special-operations-executive/

Robert Benoist, SOE (Special Operations Executive)

Robert Benoist was a French Grand Prix racing driver who escaped to England when France was occupied in 1940. Whilst in England he successfully passed selection and training for the Special …

Alan Malcher