Military Balloons in Sweden (1898-1936)


In the last decade of the 19th century, the Swedish military authorities become aware of the advantages of tethered observation balloons for direction of artillery fire, particularly for fortress artillery.

The first Swedish military balloon rose to the skies in July 1898 at the fortress of Vaxholm. According to orders a balloon department was founded with Kapten Jäderlund as commander, together with another officer, one warrant officer and two ”well-grown and intelligent” men from each company as well as a some other troop.

After a few years, the Field Telegraph Corps founded a special balloon company with its base at Frösunda north of Stockholm, not far from today’s airport of Arlanda. This lasted to 1926, when the Army Artillery took over the balloon operations. The balloon era of the Swedish defence should last to the 17th of September 1936, when Furir Carl-Erik Sunesson made the last military flight in a free-flying balloon..

Several types of balloons existed in the Swedish defence, tethered as well as free-flying.
 
For the balloons used by the Swedish Army and Navy, see the list below.
 
Click on the thumbnails for pictures and descriptions.

 

 

Fästningsballong (Spherical fortress balloon) 1898 Fästningsballong (Spherical fortress balloon) 1898   Drakballong m/09  (Kite balloon, model 1909). Swedish navy balloon vessel ”Albatross” Drakballong m/09 (Kite balloon, model 1909). Balloon vessel ”Albatross”
Balloon-house for Drakballong m/09 (Kite balloon, model 1909) at Fortress of Boden in the north of Sweden Balloon-house for Drakballong m/09 (Kite balloon, model 1909) at Fortress of Boden   Kulballong m/09 (Spherical balloon, model 1909)  Kulballong m/09 (Spherical balloon, model 1909) 
Drakballong Ae  (Kite balloon of Caquot type) Drakballong Ae (Kite balloon of Caquot type)   Fältballong m/23 ”Alto-Basso”(Swedish Army kite "field" balloon, model 1923) Fältballong m/23 ”Alto-Basso”(Kite "field" balloon, model 1923)
Kulballong m/23 (Spherical balloon, model 1923) Kulballong m/23 (Spherical balloon, model 1923)   Fältballong m/30  och m/32 (Kite balloon, model 1930 and model 1932 for the Swedish artillery)   Fältballong m/30 och m/32 (Kite balloon, model 1930 and model 1932)  
Kulballong m/30 (Spherical balloon, model 1930 for the Swedish artillery troops) Kulballong m/30 (Spherical balloon, model 1930)   Bibliography - Early Navy Aviation Bibliography
 
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© Lars Henriksson

Updated 2010-07-24

e-mail: henriksson@avrosys.nu