Copyright © Hans Högman 2020-05-02
Uniforms of the Swedish
Air Force (1)
Uniforms of the Swedish Air Force
Introduction
When the Swedish military aviation after the first
world war received the status of an independent
permanent armed service in 1926 the question of
Swedish aviation uniform arose. The Swedish Air
Force adopted a uniform on the French model. This
was a uniform based on the traditional naval
officers’ uniform, however single-breasted.
Terminology - Designation of Uniform
Models
The Swedish military uniforms have a designation
system for introduced uniforms consisting of a
prefix, the lower-case letter “m” followed by a slash
“/” and the year of issue. This year is referred to as
the year of model or model year. The designation
code for the uniforms is written as m/YYYY. For
example, if we take air force uniform m/1930 it tells
us that this uniform was first issued in 1930.
Jacket m/1930 - Standing Collar
This Air Force jacket is designated m/1930 for men
and had a standing collar.
The jacket was dark blue and single-breasted with 6
golden buttons with the Swedish national military
insignia, the three crowns imprinted. The jacket was
equipped with two breast patch pockets with flaps.
Further two side pockets with flaps. The standing
collar was 4 cm high (about two
inches). The jacked had a cotton lining.
The image to the right shows the
Swedish Air force jacket m/1930 with
standing collar. Above the cuffs on
each sleeve was the Air Force coat of
arms attached (two wings) located.
Image, Air Force Museum at
Digitaltmuseum.
Uniform m/1930
The Air Force uniform m/1930 consisted of trousers
m/1930 and jacket m/1930 (lapels). The uniform was
worn by drafted men as well as officers. there was
also a coat m/1930 used by
officers and NCOs. Rank insignias
were worn on the sleeves.
Headgear was flight cap (side
cap) m/1930.
The image to the right shows
uniform m/1930 of the Swedish
Air Force. Photo Hans Högman
2006, Karlsborgs
fästningsmuseum.
Images of the Air Force uniform m/1930:
Uniform m/1938
Uniform m/1938 was a mess dress uniform
introduced in 1938 which
consisted of a jacket and
trousers. The trousers had
stripes on the outer side of each
leg. The m/1938 uniform was
worn by officers and NCOs.
The image to the right shows the
jacket of the Air Force mess dress
m/1938 for a major. Image: Air
Force Museum, Digitaltmuseum.
Uniform m/1948
Uniform m/1948 was an aircrew jacket (Flight jacket)
with concealed buttons. Rank insignias were worn on
the shoulder straps. It was initially
intended as a fatigue uniform for flight
crews but later a service dress uniform
for officers.
The image to the left shows the Air
Force jacket m/1948. Karlsborgs
fästningsmuseum, Digitaltmuseum.
Uniform m/1951
Jacket m/1930 was replaced by uniform m/1951. The
jacket m/1951 was dark blue and had the same cut
as m/1930 but without side pockets. Rank insignias
were worn on the shoulder
straps. The jacket was single-
breasted with 5 buttons. The Air
Force coat of arms attached
(two wings) was also place on
the shoulder straps.
The image to the right shows
the Air Force jacket m/1951,
major. Air Force Museum,
Digitaltmuseum.
Air Crew Jacket m/1985 FF
Aircrew jacket m/1985FF was worn as
an extra jacket to the flying suit. The
jacket was also approved as an
outdoor garment to be worn with the
service dress uniform.
The image to the left shows the Air
Force flight crew jacket m/1985 FF.
Digitaltmuseum.
Uniform m/1987
A new Air Force uniform was adopted in 1987,
uniform m/1987. The jacket is equipped with 4
buttons and the rank insignias are worn on the
shoulder straps. There is also a waist-length jacket
with m/1987.
Uniform m/1987 is dark blue and this uniform model
is also used by the Amphibious Corps. Uniform
m/1987 consists of shoes m/1903, socks, trousers
m/1987, white shirt m/1978, black tie m/1987, jacket,
and headgear.
Sergeants and ranks above
wear peaked cap m/1930.
The service dress uniform
also includes a beret. Pilots
usually wear flight cap (side
cap) m/1930, aircrew scarf
and aircrew jacket to the
service dress uniform.
The image to the right shows
the Air Force uniform
m/1987. Image, Swedish
Armed Forces.
Images of old Aircrew Uniforms (flying suits -
flygdräkt)
Air Force Pilots
An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls
the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional
flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as
navigators or flight engineers, are also considered
aviators because they are involved in operating the
aircraft's navigation and engine systems. Military
pilots fly with the armed forces, primarily the air
forces.
Their tasks involve combat and non-combat
operations, including direct hostile engagements and
support operations. Military pilots undergo
specialized training, often with weapons. Examples of
military pilots include fighter pilots, bomber pilots,
test pilots, and transport pilots.
Training of military pilots:
The Defense Act of 1936 signified a large armament
of the Swedish Armed Forces. The armament also
included a stronger air force and a large number of
aircraft was acquired. The aircraft were both
constructed domesticity as well as purchased abroad.
This large increasing number of military aircraft also
demanded a large number of pilots and other airmen.
The Swedish Air Force, therefore established several
so-called Reserve Aviation Training Centers
(Reservflygskolor) to quickly train new pilots. During
WWII drafted servicemen were therefore accepted as
pilot trainees and trained as aviators. The staff pilots
have gold flying badges (Wings) while the drafted
pilots had silver wings. These military Reserve Aviation
Training Centers were disestablished after the war.
The last draftee pilots were trained in 1946. The
draftee pilots served as full-worthy pilots alongside
the Air Force staff pilots during WWII. Nearly 500
draftee pilots were trained as pilots
during the war and achieved their
silver wings.
The image to the right was taken in
1940 at F6 Karlsborg Air Force Wing
and shows draftee pilot Elfing with
his silver wings on his chest. He is
wearing uniform m/1930 (standing
collar). Karlsborgs
fästningsmuseum, Digitaltmuseum.
From 1946 only staff pilots were used by the Swedish
Air Force. The first Air Force Flying Training School
(stamflygförarskolan) was established at Svea Wing
(Svea flygflottilj F 8, Barkarby), in October 1946. The
flying school was transferred to F 2 Wing in Hägernäs
in 1948. The name of the flying school was changed in
1958 to “Förberedande Fältflygarskolan”.
The Air Force Academy (Flygkadettskolan) was
transferred from F 5 Wing in Ljungbyhed to F 20 Wing
in Uppsala in April 1944.
The first officers were graduated at the Academy in
April 1945. The Academy has had several names since
then; Flygvapnets krigsskola from 1966 and from 1982
Flygvapnets Krigshögskola and from 1986 Flygvapnets
Uppsalaskolor (Air Force Schools Uppsala).
Rank Insignias of the Swedish Air Force as of
2019
On 1 October 2019, the Swedish Armed Forces
adjusted its military rank system. Some new ranks
were introduced ranks and some were adjusted.
Below, The Swedish Air Force Rank Insignias from 1
October 2019:
Corresponding US ranks:
1.
Menig, menig 1 & 2 = Airman Basic (E-1)
2.
Menig 3 & 4 = Airman (E-2)
3.
Vicekorpral = Airman First Class (E-3)
--
•
Menig, menig 1 & menig 2 = OR 1
•
Menig 3 & menig 4 = OR 2
•
Vicekorpral = OR 3
Corresponding US ranks:
1.
Korpral = Senior Airman (E-4)
2.
Furir = Staff Sergeant (E-5)
3.
Överfurir = -----
•
Korpral = OR 4
•
Furir och överfurir = OR 5
Corresponding US ranks:
1.
Sergeant = Technical Sergeant (E-6) [OR 6)
2.
Översergeant = -- [OR 6)
3.
Fanjunkare = Master Sergeant (E-7) [OR 7)
4.
Förvaltare = Senior Master Sergeant (E-8) [OR 8)
5.
Flottiljförvaltare = Command Chief Master
Sergeant [OR 9]
Corresponding US ranks:
1.
Fänrik = Second Lieutenant [OF 1]
2.
Löjtnant = First Lieutenant [OF 1]
3.
Kapten = Captain [OF 2]
4.
Major = Major [OF 3]
5.
Överstelöjtnant = Lieutenant Colonel [OF 4]
6.
Överste = Colonel [OF 5]
Shoulders only.
Corresponding US ranks:
1.
Brigadgeneral = Brigadier General [OF 6]
2.
Generalmajor = Major General [OF 7]
3.
Generallöjtnant = Lieutenant General [OF 8]
4.
General = General [OF 9]
