Air Staff (Sweden)

Air Staff
Flygstaben (FS)
Coat of arms of the Swedish Air Staff.
Active	1936-1994
Country	Sweden
Allegiance	Krigsmakten/Swedish Armed Forces
Branch	Swedish Air Force
Type	Staff
Garrison/HQ

Air Staff (Swedish: Flygstaben, abbreviated FS) was the staff of the Chief of the Swedish Air Force. It was officially established in 1936 as a result of the 1936 Defense Resolution and would handle matters of a general nature. The Air Staff's duties included, among other things to assist the Chief of the Air Force with leadership of the Air Force's mobilization, training, tactics, organization, equipment and personnel to the extent that such activity was not directly related to operational activities, which was handled by the Defence Staff. In 1994 the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters took over the Air Staff's duties.

When the position of the Chief of the Air Force (Chefen för flygvapnet) was created in 1925 it had a number of officers at its disposal. The Chief of the Air Force's staff was organized in 1933 in three departments: I (organization, air forces use), II (training and personnel matters) and III (intelligence about foreign air forces, etc.). The Air Staff was organized 1 July 1936 with the following organizations: Office (1936-1964), Organization Department (1936-), Education Department (1936-), Operating Department (1936-), Operating Department (1936-1964), Aviation Department (1936-1938) and the Intelligence Department (from 1936 to 1937, when its duties were transferred to the Defense Staff). In 1937 a press officer was added, in 1942 a Press Section, in 1957 a Press Detail and the 1964 a Press Department.

In 1942, a Flight Safety and Accident Department (1942-1964) was added, then transferred to the Inspector of Flight Security (Inspektören för flygsäkerhetstjänsten), and a Signal and Weather Department (1942-1944). The latter was divided in 1944 into a Signal Department (1944-1957) and a Weather Department (1944-) for the Armed Forces a joint weather center. In 1945 a Human Resources Department (1945) was added, and in 1948 a Cash Department (1948-1957). The Signal Department was in 1957 renamed the Telecom Department (1957-1964). The same year a Planning Department (1957-) and an Intelligence Department was added.

In July 1964 the Air Staff was reorganized and sections were introduced. Subordinate to the Chief was the Chief Head Office (1964-1975), the Planning Department and the Weather Department (in 1968 transferred to the Inspector of the Weather Service). Section 1 consisted of the Central Department, Signal Communications Department, Traffic Department and the Intelligence Department (from circa 1975 the Intelligence Department (from circa 1975 the Intelligence and Security Department). Section II consisted of the Organizational Department, Education Department, Personnel Department and the Press Department (from 1973 the Information Department) and from 1968 by an ADB (EDP) Department and from 1976 of the Land (Warfare) Inspection (1976-).