Heije Schaper
Heije Schaper (8 September 1906 – 26 May 1996) was a Dutch naval and air force officer and lieutenant general of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
Heije Schaper | |
|---|---|
Heije Schaper in 1966 | |
| State Secretary for Defence | |
| In office 22 June 1966 – 5 April 1967 | |
| Prime Minister | Jo Cals (1966) Jelle Zijlstra (1966–1967) |
| Preceded by | Jan Borghouts |
| Succeeded by | Bob Duynstee |
| Chairman of the United Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of the Netherlands | |
| In office 1 November 1957 – 10 May 1959 | |
| Preceded by | Ben Hasselman |
| Succeeded by | Henry Pröpper |
| Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force | |
| In office 1 May 1956 – 1 September 1961 | |
| Preceded by | Anton Baretta |
| Succeeded by | Hein Zielstra |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Heije Schaper 8 September 1906 Joure, Netherlands |
| Died | 26 May 1996 (aged 89) The Hague, Netherlands |
| Political party | Independent Liberal |
| Spouse |
Titia Feenstra (m. 1942) |
| Children | Herman Schaper (born 1949) 2 other sons |
| Alma mater | Royal Naval College |
| Occupation | Officer · Aviator |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Netherlands |
| Branch/service | Royal Netherlands Navy (1929–1954) Royal Netherlands Air Force (1954–1961) |
| Years of service | 1929–1961 (Active duty) 1961–1964 (Reserve) |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Unit | 320 Dutch Squadron RAF |
| Commands | 321 Dutch Squadron RAF (1945–1946) Royal Netherlands Air Force (1956–1961) Armed forces of the Netherlands (1957–1959) |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Chief military adjutant to the | Monarch of the Netherlands (1962–1978) |
A highly decorated World War II officer, Schaper was awarded the Military Order of William, the highest honour of the Netherlands on 15 November 1940. Schaper served in the Royal Netherlands Navy and later the Royal Netherlands Air Force. He was the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force from 1 May 1956 until 1 September 1961 and the Chairman of the United Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of the Netherlands (highest-ranking military officer) from 1 November 1957 until 10 May 1959. He retired from active service in 1961 and served as State Secretary for Defence, tasked with Air Force affairs from 22 June 1966 until 5 April 1967.