Östgöta Flygflottilj F 3 Decal

_SchwarzerPanzer · September 28, 2025, 1:40am

Östgöta flygflottilj (F 3) Decal - A Symbol of Where It All Began

Picture: Lokal_Profil, CC BY-SA 2.5, File:HMS Östergötland vapen.svg - Wikimedia Commons converted to .PNG and used in collage as seen below.

History and Facts

Sweden’s aviation history runs deep. Few symbols represent it better than the emblem of the Östgöta Flygflottilj (F 3) at Malmen, Linköping - Östergötland County, Sweden. I suggest adding the F 3 emblem as a decal in War Thunder to honor this important chapter of Swedish military aviation.

The Östgöta Air Wing (F 3) traces its roots back to an aviation company established at Malmen in 1916. Following the Swedish Defence Act of 1925, Parliament decided to form an independent Air Force, on equal footing with the Army and Navy. Starting July 1, 1926, the Air Force was to consist of four air corps and one flight school. The original aviation company at Malmen was reorganized on that date into the 3rd Air Corps (Tredje flygkåren), taking over the former Army infantry barracks and training grounds at Malmslätt. This newly formed unit was designed specifically for close cooperation with both Army and anti-aircraft forces, marking the beginning of Sweden’s integrated air defense doctrine.

It has throughout its histoy as an Air Wing, Airbase and Flight School played a central role in the development of Swedish military aviation. From training generations of pilots to testing and operating iconic aircraft such as the J 29 Tunnan, J 35 Draken, and Sk 60, F 3 Malmen has been at the heart of Sweden’s aerial evolution.

One of the most important reasons to feature the F 3 emblem is that Malmen (the airbase of F 3) and the city of Linköping remain the heart of Swedish aerospace. This is where most Swedish aircraft - past and present - have been researched, developed, tested, produced, and integrated into the Swedish Air Force.

In 1974, the F 3 Air Wing was disbanded. Today, only the combat and flight school, aircraft testing units (FC), and the helicopter wing along with other small units, continue to operate at the site. Notable is though, that the Swedish air industry is still being developed in the very city of Linköping.

Postcard from Linköping: F 3 - 1965 with a J 35D Draken

List of Aircraft With Developed partly/fully at SAAB in Linköping or/and F 3 via FC

Saab 17
Saab 18
Saab 21
Saab 29 Tunnan
Saab 32 Lansen
Saab 35 Draken
Saab 36 Vargen (concept)
Saab 37 Viggen
Saab 38 B3LA (concept)
Saab 39 Gripen
Saab 91 Safir (SK 50)
Saab 105 SK 60
Saab 340
Saab 2000
Saab GlobalEye (modified from a bombardier global)
SAAB MFI-15/17 (only later versions)
Many more experimental, modified airframes, future aircraft and concept aircraft.

Aircraft Operated by F 3

J 1
J 2
J 3
J 5
J 6
J 9
J 11
J 28A
J 29
J 32
J 35

Spaningsflygplan (Reconnaissance aircraft)

S 1
S 6
S 14
S 16
S 17
S 18
S 22

Skolflygplan (Trainer aircraft)

Sk 5
Sk 6
Sk 8
Sk 9
Sk 11
Sk 12
Sk 14
Sk 16
Sk 50
Sk 60

Transportflygplan (Transport aircraft)

Tp 5
Tp 52
Tp 79
Tp 83
Tp 85

Övriga typer (Other types)

G 101
Se 102
Se 103
Se 104
A 1
P 1
Ö 1
Ö 3
Ö 4
Ö 6
Ö 9

The Emblem

The emblem features a golden griffin with blue claws and tongue, set against a red shield. The griffin is standing upright and is a symbol of Östergötland (the region/county of F 3). The griffin is surrounded by four blue cornflowers – the provincial flower of Östergötland – one in each corner. The shield is topped with a royal crown, signifying the unit’s historical connection to the Swedish monarchy and its status as a military formation of national importance.

The Emblem in Game
F 3
Skärmbild 2025-08-07 204009