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Jean Bastien-Thiry | |
|---|---|
 Mug shot of Bastien-Thiry | |
| Born | 19 October 1927 Lunéville, France |
| Died | 11 March 1963 (aged 35) Fort d'Ivry, Ivry-sur-Seine, France |
| Cause of death | Execution by firing squad |
| Allegiance |  France |
| Service | French Air Force |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Battles / wars | World War II Algerian War |
| Other work | Aerospace engineer |
Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry (19 October 1927 – 11 March 1963) was a French Air Force lieutenant colonel, military air-weaponry engineer and the creator of the Nord SS.10/SS.11 missiles. Bastien-Thiry attempted to assassinate French president Charles de Gaulle on 22 August 1962 in retaliation for de Gaulle's decision to accept Algerian independence. Bastien-Thiry was the last person to be executed by firing squad in France.
Although the assassination attempt nearly claimed de Gaulle's life, he and his entire entourage escaped injury. The event is depicted in Frederick Forsyth's 1971 novel The Day of the Jackal and in the 1973 film adaptation of the same name, in which Bastien-Thiry is portrayed by actor Jean Sorel.