Pierre van Ryneveld
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General Sir Hesperus Andrias van Ryneveld, KBE, CB, DSO, MC (1891-1972) was a South African military commander.
He began his military career in World War I, in which he served in the Royal Flying Corps (later Royal Air Force), where he distinguished himself as a fighter ace.
After the war, he was invited to set up a South African Air Force (SAAF). He flew back home, across Africa, in a Vickers Vimy - a pioneering feat for which he and his co-pilot Quintin Brand were both knighted.
Colonel van Ryneveld established the SAAF in 1920, and directed it until 1933, when he was promoted to Chief of the General Staff (CGS), in command of the Union Defence Forces.
He served as CGS for sixteen years, including the whole of World War II. He retired in 1949.
The Pretoria suburb of Pierre van Ryneveld was named in his honour.
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