Christoffel Venter

Who was Christoffel Venter?

Major-General Christoffel 'Boetie' Venter CB, DFC with bar, was a South African military commander.

He joined the 7th Mounted Rifles in 1912 then the 5th SAMR in August 1914 for service in South West Africa. He joined 1 South African Infantry Battalion in 1916 and served in France until he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in February 1917. He was shot down and captured in 1918. He won the DFC and bar and was credited with 16 aerial victories, and joined the South African Air Force in 1922.

He commanded 1 Squadron SAAF and served as Officer Commanding Wits Command in 1936

He was Director-General of the Air Force from 1940 to 1945. After World War II, he was managing director of South African Airways.