James Kriel

Lieutenant-General James Kriel SSAS SD SM MMM (8 March 1942 – 18 July 2016) was a South African military commander. He joined the South African Air Force in 1959.

James Kriel

Born(1942-03-08)8 March 1942
Cape Town, South Africa
Died18 July 2016(2016-07-18) (aged 74)
Bredasdorp, South Africa
Allegiance South Africa
Service/branch South African Air Force
Years of service1959 - 1996
RankLieutenant General
Commands held
Awards

Kriel attended Tygerberg High School before doing a pilot course in 1959. He served as OC 35 Squadron SAAF at AFB Ysterplaat from 1974 to 1977, flying the Avro Shackleton. He later served as Officer Commanding AFB Ysterplaat as a colonel before being transferred to Headquarters in the role of director air planning as a brigadier.[1]

Kriel was promoted to Chief of Air Staff Operations as a major general in 1986, followed by Chief of Air Force staff till 1991, when he was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed Chief of the Air Force.[2]

Kriel died on 18 July 2016 at the age of 74.[3] He married Nellie Toerien on 4 August 1963. She was the daughter of Mattheus and Catharina (Née Bosman)

Honours and awards

He was awarded the Order of the Star of South Africa (Silver) in 1994.[4]

See also

References

  1. Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452–1992. Fortress Publishers. p. 126. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
  2. "South African Defence Force". sadf.info.
  3. Barnard, Marelize (July 21, 2016). "Oudlugmaghoof James Kriel sterf". Netwerk24. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  4. "National Orders Recipients". SA History. 1994. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
Military offices
Preceded by
Jan van Loggerenberg
Chief of the South African Air Force
1991  1996
Succeeded by
Willem Hechter
Preceded by
Dries van der Lith
Chief of Air Force Staff
1990  1991
Succeeded by
Unknown
Preceded by
Pierre Steyn
Chief of Air Staff Operations
1990
Succeeded by
AH Repsold
Preceded by
Daniel Knobel
Deputy Chief of Staff Operations
1987  1990
Succeeded by
Pierre Steyn
Preceded by
Unknown
Chief of Air Staff Operations
1986  1987


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