F 1 Hässlö
Encyclopedia
F 1 Hässlö, Kungliga Västmanland
s Flygflottilj, Royal Västmanland Air Force Wing, or simply "F 1", is a former Swedish Air Force
wing with the main base located at Hässlö Flygplats
near Västerås
in central Sweden.
. The airfield at Hässlö was brought in use in 1931.
In 1936, the 1st Flying Corps was redesignated F 1 as the 1st Air Wing and received B 3
bombers. These were later supplemented with B 4
dive bombers.
In 1949, F 1 was reorganized as a night fighter wing with 60 surplus J 30
from England. They were in turn replaced by 60 J 33
in 1952. All of the J 30 and J 33 in Sweden were based at F 1.
In 1959, the night fighter squadrons were converted to regular fighter squadrons of J 32B. These were in service until 1968 when they were in turn replaced with J 35F until the decommissioning of the wing in 1983.
with daily flights to England and charter to Mediterranean destinations.
Västmanland
' is a historical Swedish province, or landskap, in middle Sweden. It borders Södermanland, Närke, Värmland, Dalarna and Uppland.The name comes from "West men", referring to the people west of Uppland, the core province of early Sweden.- Administration :...
s Flygflottilj, Royal Västmanland Air Force Wing, or simply "F 1", is a former Swedish Air Force
Swedish Air Force
The Swedish Air Force is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces.-History:The Swedish Air Force was created on July 1, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the escalating international tension during the 1930s the Air Force was reorganized and expanded...
wing with the main base located at Hässlö Flygplats
Stockholm-Västerås Airport
Stockholm-Västerås Airport, also known as Västerås Airport or Hässlö Flygplats is located at the city Västerås, and about west of Stockholm, Sweden...
near Västerås
Västerås
Västerås is a city in central Sweden, located on the shore of Lake Mälaren in the province Västmanland, some 100 km west of Stockholm...
in central Sweden.
History of the airbase
The 1st Flying Corps was set up near Västerås City July 1 1929 on the grounds of the recently disbanded 18th Infantry RegimentVästmanlands regemente
Västmanlands regemente , designations I 18 and Fo 48, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traced its origins back to the 16th century. It was disbanded for the first time in 1927 but later reraised and disbanded again in 1997...
. The airfield at Hässlö was brought in use in 1931.
In 1936, the 1st Flying Corps was redesignated F 1 as the 1st Air Wing and received B 3
Junkers Ju 86
The Junkers Ju 86 was a German monoplane bomber and civilian airliner designed in the early 1930s, and employed by both sides during World War II. The civilian model Ju 86B could carry 10 passengers. Two were delivered to Swissair and five to Luft Hansa...
bombers. These were later supplemented with B 4
Hawker Hart
The Hawker Hart was a British two-seater biplane light bomber of the Royal Air Force , which had a prominent role during the RAF's inter-war period. The Hart was designed during the 1920s by Sydney Camm and built by Hawker Aircraft...
dive bombers.
In 1949, F 1 was reorganized as a night fighter wing with 60 surplus J 30
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
from England. They were in turn replaced by 60 J 33
De Havilland Venom
The de Havilland DH 112 Venom was a British postwar single-engined jet aircraft developed from the de Havilland Vampire. It served with the Royal Air Force as a single-seat fighter-bomber and two-seat night fighter....
in 1952. All of the J 30 and J 33 in Sweden were based at F 1.
In 1959, the night fighter squadrons were converted to regular fighter squadrons of J 32B. These were in service until 1968 when they were in turn replaced with J 35F until the decommissioning of the wing in 1983.
Current use
The airfield is known today as Stockholm-Västerås AirportStockholm-Västerås Airport
Stockholm-Västerås Airport, also known as Västerås Airport or Hässlö Flygplats is located at the city Västerås, and about west of Stockholm, Sweden...
with daily flights to England and charter to Mediterranean destinations.
See also
- Swedish Armed ForcesSwedish Armed ForcesThe Swedish Armed Forces is a Swedish Government Agency responsible for the operation of the armed forces of the Realm. The primary task of the agency is to train, organize and to deploy military forces, domestically and abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to defend the Realm in the...
- Swedish Air ForceSwedish Air ForceThe Swedish Air Force is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces.-History:The Swedish Air Force was created on July 1, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the escalating international tension during the 1930s the Air Force was reorganized and expanded...
- List of military aircraft of Sweden