Skaraborg Wing
( sv, Skaraborgs flygflottilj), also F 7 Såtenäs, or simply F 7, is a
Swedish Air Force wing
A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is e ...
with the main base located near
Lidköping
Lidköping () is a locality and the seat of Lidköping Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had about
40 000 inhabitants in 2021.
It is situated on the southern shore of Lake Vänern and sometimes refers to itself as "Lidkö ...
in south-central
Sweden.
History
The decision to set up the air wing was made in 1936, but disagreements in choosing a location delayed the commissioning. The Såtenäs estate was chosen for its good location and close proximity to suitable target ranges, and was purchased for 685,000
Swedish krona in 1938.
The first squadrons were set up with
B 16A Caproni purchased from
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
at the start of
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 vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. These wooden framed aircraft were not suitable for the Nordic climate and soon got the nickname "flying coffins". They were replaced in 1941 by the Swedish
B 17A that served throughout the war.
In 1946, the three bomber squadrons were converted to attack squadrons with the introduction of
A 21, although for a brief number of years between 1948–1951,
B 18 medium bombers were transferred from the
Västmanland Wing
Västmanland Wing ( sv, Västmanlands flygflottilj), also F 1 Hässlö, or simply F 1, is a former Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located at Hässlö Airport in Västerås in central Sweden.
History
The 1st Flying Corps was set up nea ...
(F 1).
The wing converted to jet aircraft in 1951 receiving
A 21R converted from fighter to attack role from the
Scania Wing (F 10). These were only kept for three years until the introduction of
A 29B ''Tunnan'' in 1954. After only two years, they were in turn replaced by the new
A 32A in 1956.
In 1964, a new transport squadron was set up with the introduction of the
Tp 84 Hercules. Initially, only one aircraft was purchased, but a total of eight were introduced between 1965 and 1985. They are currently being used in international transport of Swedish Armed Forces. The first example acquired (84001) was withdrawn from use on 9 June 2014, with the second scheduled to follow within the year.
In 1973 the
AJ 37 ''Viggen'' replaced the A 32, and the number of attack squadrons was reduced from three to two. The Viggens served until 1993, when one squadron was converted to the new
JAS 39 Gripen
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen (; English: ''griffin'') is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab AB. The Gripen has a delta wing and canard configuration with relaxed stabilit ...
. The second squadron followed suit in 1998.
F 7 is the main center for the entire Gripen system, and all training of pilots (including that of foreign operators) is carried out here.
Barracks and training areas
Barracks
The former privately owned estate
Tun
TUN or tun may refer to:
Biology
* Tun shells, large sea snails of the family ''Tonnidae''
* Tun, a tardigrade in its cryptobiotic state
* Tun or Toon, common name for trees of the genus '' Toona''
Places
* Tun, Sweden, a locality in Västra G ...
in
Såtenäs on the southeastern part of
Lake Vänern
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much larger ...
was purchased by the state in 1938. Later, additional land was purchased. The wing has two crossing runways.
Saab 37 Viggen
The Saab 37 Viggen ( Swedish for ''"the Bolt"'' or ''"the Tufted Duck"'' ( see name)) is a retired Swedish single-seat, single-engine, short-medium range combat aircraft. Development work on the type was initiated at Saab in 1952 and, follow ...
and a Saab 17
The Saab 17 is a Swedish single-engine monoplane reconnaissance dive-bomber aircraft of the 1940s originally developed by ASJA prior to its merger into Saab. It was the first all-metal stressed skin aircraft developed in Sweden.
Design and de ...
in 1975
File:Saab JAS-39 Gripen of the Swedish Air Force at F 7 Såtenäs (4441539486).jpg, A Saab JAS 39 Gripen
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen (; English: ''griffin'') is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab AB. The Gripen has a delta wing and canard configuration with relaxed stabilit ...
and the control tower
File:F 7 Såtenäs 14.jpg, Museum
Training areas
Hattefuran in
Lake Vänern
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much larger ...
.
Heraldry and traditions
Coat of arms
The first coat of arms of the Skaraborg Wing was used from 1940 to 1994.
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The vi ...
: "Per bend sinister sable and or a lion rampant counterchanged, armed and langued gules."
The current coat of arms has been used since 1994. Blazon: "The provincial badge of Västergötland, per bend sinister sable and or, a lion rampant counterchanged, armed and langued gules between two estoiles argent in the first field, a chief azure over a string or, charged with a winged two-bladed propeller or.
Colours, standards and guidons
The colour was presented to the wing at Såtenäs by His Royal Highness
Prince Gustaf Adolf in 1943.
The colour is drawn by Brita Grep and embroidered by hand in insertion technique by the Kedja studio.
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The vi ...
: "On blue cloth in the centre the badge of the Air Force; a winged two-bladed propeller under a royal crown proper, all in yellow. In the first corner the lion of the provincial badge of
Västergötland
Västergötland (), also known as West Gothland or the Latinized version Westrogothia in older literature, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden (''landskap'' in Swedish), situated in the southwest of Sweden.
Väs ...
; bended sinister in yellow and white, armed and langued red."
March
”The Solitaire” was composed by Sverker Hållander and was adopted on 1 December 1972. One unofficial march, the ”Transportflygenhetens marsch” was composed by Kurt Westerling.
Commanding officers
The commanding officer was referred to as ''flottiljchef'' ("wing commander") from 1940 to 1974 and had the rank of
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...
. The commanding officer was referred to as ''sektorflottiljchef'' ("sector wing commander") from 1976 to 1981 and had the rank of
senior colonel. His deputy was sometimes referred to as ''flottiljchef'' ("wing commander"). These latter are not listed in the list below. The commanding officer is since 1994 referred to as ''flottiljchef'' ("wing commander") and has the rank of colonel.
Commanders
*1940–1945: Folke Ramström
*1945–1950: Ingvar Berg
*1950–1957:
Stig Norén
*1957–1958: Åke Sundén
*1958–1968: Folke Barkman
*1968–1972:
Bengt Lehander
Lieutenant General Bengt Anders Lehander (25 June 1925 – 9 May 1994) was a Swedish Air Force officer. His senior commands include wing commander of the Skaraborg Wing, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, military commander of the Eastern Military ...
*1972–1978: Karl-Erik Fernander
*1978–1985: Björn Amelin
*1985–1993: Stig Abrahamsson
*1993–1998: Krister Backryd
*1998–2001:
Jan Andersson
*2001–2005: Fredrik Hedén
*2006–2008: Ingemar Adolfsson
*2009–2013: Ingela Mathiasson
*2013–2013: Per Danielsson
*2013–2016: Michael Cherinet
*2016–2019: Lars Helmrich
*2019–2022: Malin Persson
*2022–20xx: Adam Nelson
Deputy commanders
*2003 – 2003-12-31:
Colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...
Ingela Mathiasson
*2004-01-01 – 2006:
Lieutenant colonel Ingemar Adolfsson
*2019–2022: Colonel Adam Nelson
*2022–20xx: Colonel Mattias Ottis
Names, designations and locations
See also
*
Swedish Armed Forces
The Swedish Armed Forces ( sv, Försvarsmakten, "the Defense Force") is the government agency that forms the armed forces of Sweden, tasked with the defense of the country as well as with promoting Sweden's wider interests, supporting internati ...
*
Swedish Air Force
*
List of military aircraft of Sweden
This is a list of Swedish military aircraft since its start. It is not guaranteed to be up-to-date or to be accurate, or complete. Aircraft still in service noted.
Early aircraft
Early balloons of the Army and Navy
Early Navy
(The aviation cor ...
Footnotes
References
Notes
Print
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Web
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Further reading
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Skaraborg Wing
Wings of the Swedish Air Force
Military units and formations established in 1940
1940 establishments in Sweden