Göta Wing

Göta Wing (Swedish: Göta flygflottilj), also F 9 Säve, or simply F 9, was a Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located near Gothenburg in south-west Sweden.

Göta Wing
Göta flygflottilj
Active1940–1969
CountrySweden
AllegianceSwedish Armed Forces
BranchSwedish Air Force
TypeWing (1940–1957)
Sector wing (1957–1969)
RoleFighter wing
Part ofSecond Air Group (1942–1966)
Western Military Area (1966–1969)
Garrison/HQGothenburg/Säve
Mascot(s)Vincere est vivere ("To conquer is to live")[1]
Anniversaries6 November[note 1]
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
BomberB 4, B 5, B 17
FighterJ 8, J 9, J 11, J 22, J 21, J 28, J 29, J 34
Multirole helicopterHkp 3B
ReconnaissanceS 14
TrainerSk 11, Sk 12, Sk 14, Sk 15, Sk 16, Sk 25
TransportTp 46, Tp 91
G 101, Se 102, Se 103, Se 104

History

The decision to set up the air wing was made in 1936 to defend the import/export harbours on the west coast. The wing itself was not commissioned until October 1, 1940 and the airfield took until 1941 to complete.

Initially, two squadrons of J 8 fighters were commissioned in 1940, but they were quickly replaced by three squadrons of J 11s.

In 1942 hangars and some of the base command were relocated inside large shelters blasted out of the rocks. Initially the shelter area was only 8,000 m² (72,000 sq ft.) but it was later extended to 22,000 m² (200,000 sq ft.) 30 m (100 ft) below ground level.

During 1943, the J 11s were replaced by J 22s and subsequently by J 21s in 1946. The J 21s served for only three years until 1949 when they were replaced by the J 28B.

After yet only two years the J 28Bs were in turn replaced by the J 29. The 29 Tunnan did serve for over ten years until they were finally replaced by the J 34 where some units came from Svea Wing (F 8) and Södertörn Wing (F 18).

The squadrons were gradually decommissioned one per year 1967-1969 until the wing itself was decommissioned on June 30, 1969.

The airfield later operated as Gothenburg City Airport.

The old mountain hangars house the Aeroseum museum.

Barracks and training areas

The wing was first based at F 7 and from 16 June 1941 on the Säve Airfield at Hisingen in the City of Gothenburg. The runway system comprised three runways and the wing had two underground hangars; one from 1944 and one from 1955.[2]

  • Guardhouse and control tower
    Guardhouse and control tower
  • Entrance to the underground hangar
    Entrance to the underground hangar
  • A Saab 37 Viggen in the underground hangar
    A Saab 37 Viggen in the underground hangar
  • Saab 29 Tunnan in the underground hangar in the 1950s
    Saab 29 Tunnan in the underground hangar in the 1950s

Heraldry and traditions

Coat of arms

Blazon: "The coat of arms of Gothenburg, azure, with waves argent six times divided bendy-sinister argent, charged with a double-tailed crowned lion rampant or, armed and langued gules".[1]

Colours, standards and guidons

The colour of the wing was presented by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf at the Säve Airfield on 13 October 1941. Blazon: "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 a rampant yellow lion with an open crown." Decor through inserting and embroidery.[1]

  • The 1939 colour.
    The 1939 colour.

Commanding officers

Commanding officers from 1940 to 1969.[2] The commanding officer was referred to as flottiljchef ("wing commander") and had the rank of colonel.

  • 1940–1948: Magnus Bång
  • 1948–1959: Arthur Åhmansson
  • 1959–1960: Åke Mangård
  • 1960–1969: Ulf Cappelen-Smith

Names, designations and locations
Name Translation From To
Kungl. Göta flygflottilj Royal Göta Wing
Royal Göta Air Group[3]		 1940-07-01 – 1969-06-30
Designation From To
F 9 1940-07-01 – 1957-09-30
F 9/Se W2 1957-10-01 – 1969-06-30
Location From To
Säve Airbase 1940-07-01 – 1969-06-30

See also

Footnotes
  1. The Lützen Day, in memory of Gustav II Adolf who was the founder of Gothenburg.[1]

References

Notes
  1. Braunstein 2005, p. 75
  2. Braunstein 2005, p. 76
  3. Appich 1988, p. 42

Print
  • 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. ISBN 9197158488. SELIBR 9845891. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-12-17. Retrieved 2019-12-18.

Web

Further reading
  • Bennegård, Hilding (1975). Kungl. Göta flygflottilj 1940-69: F 9 historia (in Swedish). [Säve]: [F 9]. SELIBR 822984.
  • Hall, Åke; Lindquist, Per (2005). Kungl. Göta flygflottilj: människor, miljöer, maskiner (in Swedish). Nässjö: Air Historic Research. ISBN 9197389293. SELIBR 9872361.
  • Hall, Åke; Lindquist, Per (2008). Vingat vapen över Göteborg: en bildberättelse om Kungl. Göta flygflottilj (in Swedish). Gothenburg: Aeroseum. ISBN 978-91-633-2137-5. SELIBR 10897367.
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