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.

Lieutenant General

James Kriel

SSAS SD SM MMM
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
AwardsStar of South Africa SSAS Southern Cross Decoration SD Southern Cross Medal SM Military Merit Medal MMM Pro Patria Medal ' Southern Africa Medal ' General Service Medal (South Africa) ' Unitas (Unity) Medal ' Good Service Medal ' Good Service Medal ' Good Service Medal ' Legion of Merit LOM Order of the Cloud and Banner ORB Order of Precious Tripod '

Background

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 (21 July 2016). "Oudlugmaghoof James Kriel sterf". Netwerk24. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  4. "National Orders Recipients". SA History. 1994. Retrieved 1 December 2014.


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