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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 1809.PDF
AUGUST 27TH, 1942 FLIGHT '35 SWEDEN'S AIR POWER supplying the needs of the country's defence forces. The material resources necessary for the expansion of the aircraft industry are sufficient to cope with the demands for increased output. The efficiency of metal pro duction is further enhanced by the continued concentration of the industry and the pooling of resources and research facilities. Thus the Svenska Metallverken of Vaesteras combined- with the Finspongs Metallverken A.B., and these two biggest light-metal producers in Sweden have at their disposal up-to-date plants and highly skilled per sonnel. Expansion of the Metal Production The shortage of some metals has caused restrictions in their use for civilian consumption and most of the metal- producing plants have been directed to work for the Gov ernment's armament programme. Firms like the Svenska Jietallverken, Vaesteras and the Sandviken Steel Works are turning over their output to the needs of the munition industry. The Sveuska Aluminium Company A.B. was ffhorted to be establishing two new plants at Kubikenborg (North Sweden) at a cost of 5,000,000 kr. The Bolinder- Munktell Metallurgical and Engineering Company con structed a big plant which can be considered the most up- to-date underground installation. But more than any other branch of metallurgical production, the local light-metal industry is in a state of unprecedented expansion owing to the increased demands of the growing aircraft industry. The necessity to rely increasingly on local resources of material and plant facilities, coupled with the scarcity of some consumer goods, has been responsible for the intro duction of government control immediately upon the out break of war. Shortly after the outbreak of this war the government established control of almost all raw materials. But with the increased production of military equipment, intensified farming and the increased output of timber to replace coal, a certain shortage of man power was felt. In 1942 the production of armaments and of various necessary substitutes has been further intensified, and (H.C.AIR FORCE AIR STAFF- Organisation Dept. OPSSSSR BOVAL AIR BOARD Information Oept. Technical Equip.Dept. Ordnance Department Airdromes&BuildingsDept. Operational «Jrainin|Organisation Staff Headquarters Group Staffs 4 Brigades* 6 Wings tt& ->3 SOUTH WEST FIGHTER. BOMBER * if ± •*• TOR* BOMBER L.R.RECONN. S.R.RECONN. NAVAL PATROL ffrmrl The diagram shows the organisation of the Royal Swedish Air Force under the present programme of expansion. Each aircraft symbol in top row stands for 2 flotillas, in bottom row for one. increased call-ups of men for military service has added a further drain on Sweden's resources of man power. An even stricter control of economy is therefore likely to set in to release man power from non-essential industry to such branches of production as are engaged on the fulfilment of the rearmament programme. The production ol suitable aircraft engines was one of the most serious deterrents of Swedish efforts to rebuild air power. In other branches of strategic production Sweden had ample experience and plants but not so iu the case of aircraft engines. Moreover, the absolute im possibility of purchases abroad made this a most serious problem. The policy embarked upon, and which lias already yielded very satisfying results, was to pool the local resources of skill and technical experience accumu lated in the automotive industry. The Volvo Company, known the world over for its products, has stepped in and acquired the controlling interest of the " Nohab " Engine Co. (since changed into Svenska Flygmotor A.B.) and of other engine works. With the view of further expansion this company has recently doubled its share capital; the new issue being taken up by Volvo and Bofors. Between them the two latter companies own 62.5 per cent, and 32.5 per cent, respectively of the Svenska Flygmotor firm. At present, this concentration of the aircraft engine industry has led to a unified control of four plants for air craft engines and parts: (1) The Svenska Flygmotor Works at Trollhattan; (2) The Volvo Works at G6teborg; (3) Volvo Branch Works at Skovde ; (4) a new plant at Ulv- sunda, near Stockholm. The Svenska Flygmotor Works at Trollhattan are entirely self contained, using domestic material and producing their own castings, forgings, etc. Bristol "Mercury" and Pegasus engines, and Hamilton v.p. airscrews have for some time been in production in this plant. The Production of Aircrait As in the case of the production of aircraft engines, the policy of the government applied to the aircraft industry is to prevent scattering of contracts and f J enforce strictest supervision and a far-reaching standardisation of types. In conformity with this, policy the Svenska Aeroplan , A.B. was the main supplier of the government's orders. The design department of the A.B. Forenade Flygverk- stader, Stockholm, a com pany formed in 1937, was merged with the Svenska Aeroplan and gradually a wide joint organisation has been built up. Among others it includes to-day two main plants at Linkop- ing (originally the A.B. Svenska Yarnvagsverkstil- derna) and at Trollhattan. The NA-ifr Trainer and the Douglas (Northrop) 8A single-engine bomber were produced for the Swedish Air Force at Link6ping and the Junkers Ju.86 was built under licence at TroU- hattan. A short while ago the A.B. Hagglund och Soner at Oernskoldsvik, a firm of motor body builders, took up the production of aircraft and components. The Gotaverken at Gote- borg, one of the country's largest shipbuilders, built at first Hawker "Hart" hi planes, and was for some time engaged on its own designs. Incidentally, this firm was responsible for the design and construction of the "Gotland," Sweden's Ground Organisation Zones ^ ^ ^ ^ EAST I NORTH N.NORRLAN0 ! ./•SoL Workshops
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