Main runway edit

The main runway was a typical runway at a length of 2,000–2,300 metres (6,600–7,500 ft) and 30–40 metres (98–131 ft) wide, with a taxiway running parallel to it. Visual aids for pilots such as runway lights were installed. At the ends of the runway there were raisable and lowerable nets for capturing aircraft that were not able to take off or land properly.

Framom - Fore flight line position edit

Främre klargöringsområde (framom), fore flight line position, was the flight line position (apron) by the main runway, and was where fighter aircraft were to be prepared for missions and be on standby. A base usually had two framom positions, one located at each end of the main runway. One framom position had space for four aircraft. Attack and reconnaissance aircraft in need of complementary refueling could also be refueled at framom. Fighter aircraft on standby at framom were directly connected to the bases communication net so the pilots could receive orders directly and take off immediately after receiving the order. When no aircraft were at framom, the groundcrew would evacuate the area as a safety measure and return when new aircraft came in.

Bakom - Rear flight line position edit

Bakre klargöringsområde (bakom), rear flight line position, was the flight line position for attack and reconnaissance aircraft. Bakom was located 2–3 kilometres (1.2–1.9 mi) away from the main airfield and only bases that were regular bases for attack and reconnaissance aircraft had a bakom position. In case a base was a regular base for both attack and reconnaissance there were two separate bakom positions, referred to as bakom-attack (rear-attack) and bakom-spaning (rear-reconnaissance). A bakom position had 10-15 individual aircraft spaces (hardstands) with a distance of 50 metres (160 ft) between each space, and aircraft currently in bakom were to be separated as much as possible within the available aircraft spaces. This was to reduce the risk of having all aircraft destroyed in a single attack. The aircraft spaces could also be concealed with camouflage nets. Bakom was connected to the main airfield via a taxiway that in many cases was public road integrated into the base infrastructure, and aircraft could either taxi on their own between the sections of the base or be towed by a vehicle.

Uom - Staging area edit

Uppställningsområdet (uom), staging area, was where aircraft undergoing long-term maintenance, such as repairs, or not being in immediate use were kept. Uom was located 5–10 kilometres (3.1–6.2 mi) away from the main airfield. A uom had field hangars for maintenance work and a site for engine swapping and testing. Just like at bakom the aircraft spaces at uom could be concealed with camouflage nets and was connected with the rest of the base via a taxiway that often was public road. Most of the aircraft groundcrew and their equipment would be positioned at uom.

To complement the ordinary Bas 60 bases, reservvägbaser (road runways) were built to act as a backup alternative. Selected sections of public roads that were suitable for the purpose were widened to give enough space for aircraft to take-off and land. The typical dimensions for a reservvägbas (road runway) was 1,500–2,000 metres (4,900–6,600 ft) in length and 12 metres (39 ft) in width. One or two runway aprons were built near each end of the runway. About 30 road runways were built, primarily in the southern and eastern parts of Sweden. Usage of the road runways were limited by adverse light and weather conditions, which is why they were primarily considered a backup alternative. Utilizing a road runway required relocating units and resources from an ordinary base, and certain field works around the runway were often necessary before it could be used.

Selected civilian airports were later added as additional reserve bases.

Kommandocentral - Command centre edit

The air traffic operations on a base were led and organized from a kommandocentral (command centre), abbreviated as KC, located in an underground bunker a few kilometers away from the airfield. A KC was manned by 6-8 people, including the duty officer.

TLF - The traffic leader at the field edit

Trafikledaren vid fältet (TLF), the traffic leader at the field, was stationed at the main runway and assisted the air traffic operations. In case kommandocentralen was unavailable or stopped functioning the TLF could take over control of air traffic operations. The TLF operated from a special cart that was equipped with base radio, air traffic radio, telephone and controls for runway functions such as lighting.

Stabsplats - Command post edit

The overarching and long term operations on base were led and organized from a stabsplats (command post). This command post would be located in one or more buildings (often a school) in a nearby town or city. The stabsplats also acted as the camp for many of the base units, including the medical, meteorology and security units.

One base was operated by a basbataljon 60 (base battalion type 60), with the battalion chief in charge of the overall operations on the base. A fully mobilized battalion consisted of 1200-1500 men, but in peace time a base was normally operated by 2-3 technical officers and 10-15 conscripted flight mechanics. During larger exercises all or part of the full base battalion would be called in.

One base battalion consisted of the following units:

• Stabskompani (command company): command and administration of the base.
• Stationskompani (station company): aircraft groundcrew and maintenance.
• Intendenturkompani (commissariat company): supply and logistics.
• Flygfältsarbetskompani (field works company): base infrastructure repair and maintenance.
• Skyddskompani (security company): base security, removal of unexploded ordnance and fire fighting.
• Sjukvårdspluton (medical platoon): first aid and medical care.

The defense of the base could also be reinforced with infantry and anti-air units from the Swedish Army.

In the 1970s and 1980s the Bas 60 system was developed into Bas 90 to accommodate new needs and threats.

With the end of the cold war the Bas 60 and Bas 90 system was scrapped, and many of the wartime air bases have been demilitarized and sold to civilian owners.

The Bas 60 road runways are not to be confused with the short runways in the Bas 90 system, which in many cases also were built on public road. The Bas 90 short runways belonged to a larger air base and were therefore not counted as individual bases, unlike the Bas 60 road runways.

Books edit

• Andersson, Lennart, ed. (2008). Svenska flygbaser. Flyghistorisk revy ; [Specialnr 2008]Publikation / Försvaret och det kalla kriget (FOKK), 1652-5388 ; 13 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Svensk flyghistorisk förening (SFF). ISSN 0345-3413. SELIBR 11255837.
• Andersson, Lennart (2010). ÖB:s klubba: flygvapnets attackeskader under kalla kriget. Publikation / Försvaret och det kalla kriget (FOKK), 1652-5388 ; 24 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Svenskt militärhistoriskt bibliotek. ISBN 9789185789740. SELIBR 11958220.
• Andersson, Lennart, ed. (2016). Svenskt flyg under kalla kriget (in Swedish). Stockholm: Medström. ISBN 9789173291347. SELIBR 18615728.

Web edit

• Rystedt, Jörgen (2005-10-01). "Flygbassystem 60" (PDF) (in Swedish). Försvarets Historiska Telesamlingar. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
• Törnell, Bernt (January 2007). "Svenska militära flygbaser" (PDF) (in Swedish). Tomelilla: Swedish Fortifications Agency. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
• Andersson, Lennart (November 2006). "Svenska reservvägbaser" (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Swedish Fortifications Agency. Retrieved 19 March 2019.