On this day - 22 August

On August 22nd 1962 Charles de Gaulle, his wife and his son-in-law were on their way to the airport when they came under fire from a machine gun squad. The attack was arranged by Jean Bastien-Thiry, a Lt Col in the French Air Force in response to Charles de Gaulle's initiatives on Algeria. He had a team of 3 shooters with him for the attack. Despite 14 bullets being found inside the car after the attack, everyone within survived.

Bastien-Thiry was arrested and put to trial. Following the trial he was executed by firing squad on March 11th 1963. He was the last person executed this way in France.