Lieutenant-General Jacobus Verster (1919–1981) was a
South African military commander. He joined the
South African Air Force
"Through hardships to the stars"
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in 1936, and served in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
. He was Chief of the Air Force from 1967 to 1975.
Military career
He was educated at al Rodean High School in
Swartruggens
Swartruggens is a small farming town in North West Province, South Africa that was established in 1875.
Location
The town is located by the Elands River, 69 km from the town of Zeerust, 56 km west of the city of Rustenburg and 34&nbs ...
and later Pretoria University and joined the Air Force in 1936 as a student pilot.
He served in
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the Royal Air Force's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. Along with the United States Army Air Forces, it played the central role in the Strategic bombing during World War II#Europe, strategic bombing of Germany in W ...
at
Hendon
Hendon is an urban area in the Borough of Barnet, North-West London northwest of Charing Cross. Hendon was an ancient manor and parish in the county of Middlesex and a former borough, the Municipal Borough of Hendon; it has been part of Great ...
in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
. He was shot down in North Africa in 1942
and was taken prisoner.
He served as Aide-de-Camp to the Governor General and the State President (19531962)
OC SAAF College 1961-1963. He was promoted to brigadier in 1963 and served as Military, Air and Naval Attaché to London from 1963-1966. As a major general he was appointed as GOC Air Defence Group during January to November 1967. Chief of the Air Force from December 1967 until early retirement in 1974. He died in 1981.
Awards and decorations
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See also
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List of South African military chiefs
This article lists the South African military chiefs. From 1958 until the first democratic general election in 1994, the present-day South African National Defence Force was known as the South African Defence Force. From 1912 to 1958, the mil ...
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South African Air Force
"Through hardships to the stars"
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References
1919 births
1981 deaths
Afrikaner people
People from Boksburg
Chiefs of the South African Air Force
{{SouthAfrica-mil-bio-stub