Gold Wings
Gold Wings were granted each pilot cadet after completion of training at squadron F5 school in Ljungbyhed. It was probably a very important day in the cadet's life. In addition, the wings were presented by the air force chief himself, Bengt Nordenskiöld.
Unfortunately for too many, air service ended with severe accidents. When you look how often pilots were killed at the time and compare with today's accident statistics, the figures seem quite alarming. Clearly the young people, who during the 1940s and 1950s applied to the Air Force as pilots, took a big risk. This correlation did not only exist in Sweden, but also in Europe and the USA. Such incidents in connection with exercises are, fortunately, very unusual today.
Guldvingar
Guldvingarna fick varje godkänd fältflygarelev efter fullgjord utbildning
på skolflottiljen F5 i Ljungbyhed. Förmodligen en mycket stor dag i den blivande fältflygarens liv. Vingarna utdelades dessutom av
självaste flygvapenchefen Bengt Nordenskiöld.
Tyvärr slutade flygtjänstgöringen ute på flottiljerna i allt för många fall med svåra
olyckor. Tittar man i dag på dåtidens haveristatistik med ofta omkomna piloter, så ter sig dessa siffror helt skrämmande. Klart är,
att de ungdomar, som under 40- och 50-talet sökte sig till Flygvapnet som piloter, tog en stor medveten (?) risk. Ett förhållande,
som inte bara rådde i Sverige, det var likadant i övriga Europa och i USA. Numera är ju olyckor i samband med övningar dessbättre
mycket ovanliga.
