Benoît Musy was born on December 13, 1917 in Bern (Switzerland). His father, Dr. Jean-Marie Musy, was a Swiss federal councilor and became President (1925-1930)
of Switzerland. His mother was Juliette Musy de Meyer, the daughter of Jules and Maria de Meyer.
After graduating from secondary schools in Bern, Benoît Musy added to his academic credentials by attending a prestigious Swiss agronomy institution. He
received his agricultural engineer's diploma, and then served as a Lieutenant in the "number 4 squadron" of the Swiss air force: www.amicaleaviation4.ch
From
1938 to 1948, he worked in the agriculture business. In 1947, he was the first military skydiver and he obtained the number 2 licence. As civil and Swiss military pilot, he logged over 1,700 landings. He was also an accomplished horseman, skier and fencing
enthusiast.
In 1944, during World War II, Benoit had accompanied his father, Jean-Marie Musy to Germany, to
participate in negotiations to release 1,200 Jewish prisoners from concentration camps. Many times he risked his life to rescue prisoners of the Holocaust in Germany, and drove thirty thousand kilometers during eight months, in the most perilous circumstances.
|