User:Saftgurka/sandbox25
| 2nd Air Command | |
|---|---|
| Andra flygeskadern | |
| Active | 1942–1966 |
| Country | Sweden |
| Allegiance | Swedish Armed Forces |
| Branch | Swedish Air Force |
| Type | Bomb/fighter (1942–1948) Fighter (1948–1966) |
| Size | Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Gothenburg (1942-1957) Ängelholm (1957–1966) |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | B 3, B 5, B 17 |
| Fighter | J 21A-2, J 21R, J 22, J 26, J 29, J 32B, J 34 |
The 2nd Air Command[a] (Swedish: Andra flygeskadern, E 2) was an air group unit in the Swedish Air Force. The 2nd Air Command was the collective name given to the bomb and fighter wings who would jointly carry out heavier attacks in the event of war. It was active in various formations from 1942 to 1966.
Naming[edit]
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 (flygeskader) in the end of 1938. In 1942, it became the 1st Air Squadron (Första Flygeskadern, E 1), with the 2nd and 3rd to follow in 1942 and the 4th 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[edit]
According to the Defence Act of 1936, 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 command. 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.[4] Flygeskadern (the "Air Command") was organized in response to the emergency preparedness in September 1939 and was dissolved (except for the staff) in the latter part of 1940. According to the Defence Act of 1942, four air commands would be permanently organized and in peacetime command the constituent wings regarding tactical and operational exercises. In 1942, the Swedish Air Force expanded its war organization into four air commands. The distribution of the Swedish Air Force wings to the air commands varied from 1 July 1945, when all four air commands had been organized. The 2nd Air Command had bomb and fighter duties, the 1st Air Command had attack duties, the 3rd Air Command had fighter duties and the 4th Air Command had reconnaissance duties.[4]
In 1957, the staff were merged with the staffs of the Southern Air Defence District and the Western Air Defence District and was transferred to Ängelholm.[5]
Organisation[edit]
Organisation between 1942 and 1966.[6]
1942–1948[edit]
| Wings | Type | Main aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Västgöta Wing (F 6) | Light bomb | B 5 / B 17 |
| Skaraborg Wing (F 7) | Light bomb | B 17 |
| Göta Wing (F 9) | Fighter | J 22 |
| Halland Wing (F 14) | Light bomb | B 3 / B 18 |
1948–1957[edit]
| Wings | Type | Main aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Jämtland Wing (F 4) | Fighter | J 26 |
| Göta Wing (F 9) | Fighter | J 28B |
| Scania Wing (F 10) | Fighter | J 21R / J 28B |
| Kalmar Wing (F 12) | Fighter | J 21A-2 |
| Hälsinge Wing (F 15) | Fighter | J 21A-2 / J 21 A-3 |
1957–1966[edit]
| Wings | Type | Main aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Östgöta Wing (F 3) | Fighter | J 29 |
| Göta Wing (F 9) | Fighter | J 29 Tunnan / J 34 |
| Scania Wing (F 10) | Fighter | J 29 Tunnan / J 34 |
| Kalmar Wing (F 12) | Fighter | J 32B |
Commanding officers[edit]
Commanders[edit]
- 1943–1946: Major General Åge Lundström
- 1947–1957: Major General Folke Ramström
- 1957–1966: Major General Ingvar Berg
Deputy commanders[edit]
After the air defence districts were decommissioned on 30 September 1957, a deputy commander position was added.
- 1957–1959: Colonel Ingemar Nygren
- 1959–1963: Colonel Gunnar Lindberg
- 1963–1966: Colonel Sten Rydström
Names, designations and locations[edit]
| Name | Translation | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andra flygeskadern | 2nd Air Command | 1942 | – | 1966 |
| Designation | From | To | ||
| E 2 | 1942 | – | 1966-09-30 | |
| Location | From | To | ||
| Gothenburg | 1942-??-?? | – | 1957-??-?? | |
| Ängelholm Airbase | 1957-??-?? | – | 1966-09-30 |
Footnotes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Appich, Jr., Thomas W. (22 July 1988). "REFERENCE AID SWEDISH-ENGLISH GLOSSARY OF MILITARY AND TECHNICAL ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS" (PDF). United States Joint Publications Research Service. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. p. 35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Gullberg, Ingvar E. (1977). Svensk-engelsk fackordbok för näringsliv, förvaltning, undervisning och forskning [A Swedish-English dictionary of technical terms used in business, industry, administration, education and research] (in Swedish) (2nd ed.). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 134. ISBN 91-1-775052-0. SELIBR 8345587.
- ^ Gullberg, Ingvar E. (1977). Svensk-engelsk fackordbok för näringsliv, förvaltning, undervisning och forskning [A Swedish-English dictionary of technical terms used in business, industry, administration, education and research] (in Swedish) (2nd ed.). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 223. ISBN 91-1-775052-0. SELIBR 8345587.
- ^ a b "Förteckning > Flygeskadern / 1. flygeskadern" [List > Air Command / 1st Air Command] (in Swedish). National Archives of Sweden. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ "Flygvapnets fredsorganisation. Staber, flygförband, skolförband och skolor fram till år 2000" (PDF) (in Swedish). Försvarets Historiska Telesamlingar. pp. 4–5.
- ^ Braunstein, Christian (2005). Svenska flygvapnets förband och skolor under 1900-talet (PDF). Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 8 [dvs 9] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. p. 123. ISBN 9197158488. SELIBR 9845891.
Category:Military units and formations of the Swedish Air Force Category:Military units and formations established in 1942 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1966 Category:1942 establishments in Sweden Category:1966 disestablishments in Sweden Category:Gothenburg Garrison