Military Wiki
First Air Group
Första flygeskadern (E 1)
Active 1939–1995
Country Sweden
Allegiance Swedish Armed Forces
Branch Swedish Air Force
Type Mixed (1939–1948)
Attack (1948–1995)
Size Group
Garrison/HQ Karlsborg (1939-1942)
Stockholm (1942–1957)
Gothenburg (1957–1995)
Nickname(s) ÖB:s klubba[1]
Insignia
Roundel Roundel of Sweden
Aircraft flown
Attack A 21A-3
A 32A Lansen
AJ 37 Viggen
Bomber B 3 Junkers
B 4 Hawker Hart
B 17
B 18
B 18B
Fighter J 8 Gloster Gladiator
J 21
J 21R
Reconnaissance S 6 Fokker
T 18B

First Air Group (Swedish language: Första flygeskadern , E 1), previously named Air Group (Swedish language: Flygeskadern ) and later named Attack Group (Swedish language: Attackeskadern ) was an air group unit in the Swedish Air Force. The First Air Group was the collective name given to the attack wings who would jointly carry out heavier attacks in the event of war. It was active in various formations from 1939 to 1995. It was directly subordinate to the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces and therefore nicknamed ÖB:s klubba ("Supreme Commander's club").[1]

Naming[]

Since its foundation in 1926 the Swedish Air Force grouped its aircraft into Flygkår (Air Corps, like the Första flygkåren, Andra flygkåren, Tredje flygkåren - the First, the Second, the Third Air Corps etc.), this being the aviation equivalent of an army regiment. In 1936 the Swedish Air Force switched from army-like to navy-like naming of its flying units. Thus the "air corps" became "flying flotillas" (flygflottiljer, sing. flygflottilj) with the respective geographic region added as an official name, thus the Second Air Corps (Andra Flygkår) established in 1926 became the Second Royal Roslagen Flying Flotilla (Andra Kungliga Roslagens Flygflottilj) in 1936. Following the naval nomenclature these flying flotillas were further divided into divisions (divisioner, sing. division) like the navy's destroyer divisions. In the end of 1938 the Swedish Air Force formed an air squadron (Flygeskadern) in the end of 1938. In 1942 it became the First Air Squadron (E1 Första Flygeskadern), with the Second and Third to follow in 1943 and the Fourth in 1945. So the traditional Swedish naming of air units is as follows:

  • Eskader or Flygeskader - USAF Air Division or RAF Air Group equivalent
  • Flottilj or Flygflottilj - USAF Air Wing or RAF Station equivalent
  • Division - Air Squadron
  • Grupp - Flight

History[]

According to the 1936 Defense Bill, an air group commander would in case of war carry out the immediate command of the Swedish Air Force units that were part of the air group. In peacetime, his duties were to plan exercises, inspect wing exercises and conduct co-exercises and major practical exercises, that is, not to have constant command of Swedish Air Force wings.[2] Flygeskadern (the "Air Group") was organized in response to the emergency preparedness in September 1939 and was resolved (except for the staff) in the latter part of 1940. According to the 1942 Defense Bill, four air groups would be permanently organized and in peacetime command the constituent wings regarding tactical and operational exercises. Its staff was located in Karlsborg from 1939 to 1942. In 1942 the Swedish Air Force expanded its war organization into four air groups and the Air Group was renamed First Air Group (Första flygeskadern, E 1), with its staff in Stockholm. The distribution of the Swedish Air Force wings to the air groups varied from 1 July 1945, when all four air groups had been organized. The First Air Group had attack duties, the Second and Third Air Group had fighter duties and the Fourth Air Group had reconnaissance duties.[2]

The staff were merged with the staff of the Western Airbase Area (Västra flygbasområdet, Flybo V) on 1 October 1957 and was placed in Gothenburg. This air group was meant to have attack duties.[2] Its command center Björn, was located south of Skara.[3] In 1966 the First Air Group became the only air group in the Swedish Air Force, when the three others were decommissioned. The commander of the First Air Group was subordinate to the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces according to instruction by the King in Council. Issues concerning unit training and production, the commander of the First Air Group was subordinate to the Chief of the Air Force.[1] The First Air Group was then renamed Attackeskadern ("Attack Group") and was led by a joint staff based in Gothenburg until it was decommissioned in 1995. The decommissioning decision came in conjunction with the 1992 Defense Bill, in which it was decided that three geographic air commands were to be established on 1 July 1993 and subsequently retrieved the duties from the First Air Group.[4] At the decommissioning, the traditions and history of the First Air Group were transferred to the Chief of Air Force Staff, which on 30 June 1998 handed them over to the Swedish Air Force Center (Flygvapencentrum).

Organisation[]

1938–1940[]

Wings Type Main aircraft Comment
F 1 Hässlö Medium bomber B 3 Junkers
F 3 Malmslätt Reconnaissance S 6 Fokker
F 4 Frösön Light bomber / Dive bomber B 4 Hawker Hart
F 8 Barkarby Fighter J 8 Gloster Gladiator

1942–1948[]

Wings Type Main aircraft Comment
F 1 Hässlö Bomber B 18
F 4 Frösön Light bomber B 17
F 12 Kalmar Light bomber B 17
F 15 Söderhamn Day-time fighter J 21

1948–1957[]

Wings Type Main aircraft Comment
F 6 Karlsborg Attack A 21A-3
F 7 Såtenäs Attack J 21R / B 18B
F 14 Halmstad Attack B 18B
F 17 Kallinge Attack T 18B

1957–1966[]

Wings Type Main aircraft Comment
F 6 Karlsborg Attack A 32A Lansen
F 7 Såtenäs Attack A 32A Lansen
F 14 Halmstad Attack A 32A Lansen Removed in 1961, and replaced by F 15
F 15 Söderhamn Attack A 32A Lansen Added in 1961, and replaced F 14
F 17 Kallinge Attack A 32A Lansen

1966–1995[]

Wings Type Main aircraft Comment
F 6 Karlsborg Attack A 32A Lansen. AJ 37 Viggen from 1977
F 7 Såtenäs Attack A 32A Lansen. AJ 37 Viggen from 1973
F 15 Söderhamn Attack A 32A Lansen. AJ 37 Viggen from 1974
F 17 Kallinge Attack A 32A Lansen until 1975 Removed from E 1 after rearmament to fighter wing

Commanding officers[]

Between 1938 and 1941 the commander had the rank of colonel. Between 1941 and 1994, the commander had the rank of major general.

Commanders[]

Deputy commanders[]

After the airbase areas were decommissioned on 30 September 1957, a deputy commander position was added. The deputy commander had the rank of colonel. When all the air groups (except the First Air Group) were decommissioned in 1966, the deputy commander position disappeared.

  • 1957–1964 – Gösta Sandberg (acting)
  • 1964–1966 – Karl-Erik Karlsson

Name, designation and garrison[]

Names
Flygeskadern Air Group 1939 1942
Första flygeskadern First Air Group 1942 1966
Attackeskadern Attack Group 1966 1995
Designations
E 1 1939 1995
Garrison
Karlsborg (G) 1939 1942
Stockholm (G) 1942 1957
Gothenburg (G) 1 October 1957 1995

References[]

Notes[]

Print[]

  • Braunstein, Christian (2005) (in sv). Svenska flygvapnets förband och skolor under 1900-talet. Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 8 [dvs 9]. Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. p. 122. ISBN 91-971584-8-8. 9845891. 

Further reading[]

  • Andersson, Lennart (2010) (in sv). ÖB:s klubba: flygvapnets attackeskader under kalla kriget. Publikation / Försvaret och det kalla kriget (FOKK), 1652-5388 ; 24. Stockholm: Svenskt militärhistoriskt bibliotek. ISBN 978-91-85789-74-0. 11958220. 

External links[]

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The original article can be found at First Air Group and the edit history here.