Axel Ljungdahl

Ljungdahl was born on 7 August 1897 in Lund, Sweden, the son of merchant August Ljungdahl and his wife Clara (née Lundberg) and brother of Karl-Gustaf Ljungdahl, the CEO of ÅF.{{cite book |editor1-last=Burling |editor1-first=Ingeborg |date=1962 |title=Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1963 |trans-title=Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1963 |location=Stockholm |publisher=Norstedt |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|9649168}} |url=https://runeberg.org/vemardet/1963/0694.html |pages=678–679}}

Ljungdahl was commissioned as an officer in 1918 and was assigned to the South Scanian Infantry Regiment (I 25) the same year.{{cite book |editor1-last=Harnesk |editor1-first=Paul |date=1962 |title=Vem är vem? 1, Stor-Stockholm |trans-title=Who is Who? 1, Greater Stockholm |edition=2nd |location=Stockholm |publisher=Vem är vem |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|53509}} |url=https://runeberg.org/vemarvem/sthlm62/0859.html |page=835}} He trained as a pilot at Malmslätt from 1921 to 1923.{{cite news |url=https://www.dn.se/arkiv/familj/mangkunnig-flygvapenchef/ |newspaper=Dagens Nyheter |title=Mångkunnig flygvapenchef |date=1995-04-20 |access-date=14 March 2017 |language=sv}} Ljungdahl also attended the Royal Central Gymnastics Institute from 1922 to 1924, the Royal Swedish Army Staff College from 1924 to 1926 and the Royal Swedish Naval Staff College from 1926 to 1927. He served as captain of the General Staff in 1930 and as teacher at the Royal Swedish Army Staff College from 1930 to 1937. Ljungdahl was military attaché and air attaché in London from 1935 to 1936 and was promoted to major in the Swedish Air Force the same year.

He was head of the Education Department of the Air Staff from 1936 to 1939 when he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Ljungdahl was wing commander of the Västmanland Wing from 1939 to 1942 and was promoted to colonel in 1940. He was then Chief of the Air Staff from 1942 to 1947 and was promoted to major general in 1943. Ljungdahl was commanding officer of the 3rd Air Command (Tredje flygeskadern, E 3) from 1947 to 1954 when he was promoted to lieutenant general. In 1954 he was appointed Chief of the Air Force. During Ljungdahl's time as Chief of the Air Force began the necessary modernization and expansion of including base and combat management systems. The Air Force began to bring balance and thus became a more homogenous and enduring force.{{cite journal |url=http://www.fht.nu/bilder/Flygvapnet/Flygvapennytt/fv_nytt_2_95_hyllning_gen_axel_ljungdahl.pdf |journal=Flygvapennytt |title=En hyllning till general Axel Ljungdahl |first=Sven-Olof |last=Olson |author-link=Sven-Olof Olson |year=1995 |number=2 |publisher=Flygstaben |location=Stockholm |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|8257600}} |page=18}} He retired in 1960 and was then promoted to full general. Ljungdahl conducted his farewell flight as Chief of the Air Force in a J 28 Vampire.

During his career, Ljungdahl was also an expert in the 1930 Defense Commission and a member of the 1931 and the 1933 Air Commission as well as the Civil Aviation Board (Luftfartsstyrelsen) in 1945. He was a board member of the pension insurance company Valand-Pensionsbolaget and chairman of the board of Ostermans Aero AB.{{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/handkal/1971alfa/0486.html |title=Sveriges handelskalender 1971 |year=1971 |publisher=Bonnier |location=Stockholm |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|8260895}} |page=484}} Ljungdahl became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences in 1943 and was its president from 1955 to 1957. After retiring from the military, Ljungdahl devoted his time to studies and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1965, a Licentiate of Philosophy degree in 1968, a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1970 and a Bachelor of Theology degree in 1975.{{cite book |date=1976 |title=Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1977 |trans-title=Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1977 |location=Stockholm |publisher=Norstedt |language=sv |isbn=91-1-766022-X |id={{LIBRIS|3681523}} |url=https://runeberg.org/vemardet/1977/0665.html |page=645}}

In 1938 he married Ruth Hallert (née Johansson, born 1907), the daughter of managing director Axel Johansson and his wife. Ljungdahl was the father of Birgitta (born 1940).

Ljungdahl died on 12 April 1995 in Stockholm and was buried at Norra begravningsplatsen in Stockholm.{{cite web |url=http://svenskagravar.se/gravsatt/45757532 |publisher=Svenskagravar.se |title=Ljungdahl, AXEL GEORG |access-date=28 April 2017 |language=sv}}

• 1922 – Lieutenant
• 1930 – Captain
• 1936 – Major
• 1939 – Lieutenant colonel
• 1940 – Colonel
• 1943 – Major general
• 1954 – Lieutenant general
• 1960 – General

• 50x50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword (6 June 1953){{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/statskal/1955/1276.html |title=Sveriges statskalender för året 1955 |year=1955 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Stockholm |language=sv |page=8}}
• 50x50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Commander 1st Class of the Order of the Sword (6 June 1945){{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/statskal/1950bih/0011.html |title=Sveriges statskalender för året 1950 |year=1950 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Stockholm |language=sv |page=11}}
• 50x50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Commander of the Order of the Sword (6 June 1944){{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/statskal/1945bih/0013.html |title=Sveriges statskalender för året 1945 |year=1945 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=13}}
• 50x50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Knight of the Order of the Sword (1939){{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/statskal/1940bih/0039.html |title=Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1940 |year=1940 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=39}}
• 50x50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Knight of the Order of the Polar Star (1943){{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/statskal/1945bih/0085.html |title=Sveriges statskalender för året 1945 |year=1945 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=85}}
• 50x50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Commander 1st Class of the Order of Vasa (6 June 1947){{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/statskal/1950bih/0125.html |title=Sveriges statskalender för året 1950 |year=1950 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Stockholm |language=sv |page=125}}
• 50x50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Knight of the Order of Vasa (1938){{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/statskal/1940bih/0255.html |title=Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1940 |year=1940 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=255}}

• 50x50px {{flagicon|Finland}} Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland (before 1962)
• 50x50px {{flagicon|Ethiopia|1897}} Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Ethiopia (before 1962)
• 50x50px {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau with swords (18 May 1957)Nationaal Archief, inventory 2.02.32, dossier 373, registry number 943
• 50x50px {{flagicon|Norway}} Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav (1 July 1957){{cite web |url=https://www.kongehuset.no/tildelinger.html?tid=28028&sek=27995&q=Ljungdahl%2C+A&type=&aarstall= |publisher=Royal Court of Norway |website=www.kongehuset.no |title=Tildelinger av ordener og medaljer |trans-title=Awards of medals and medals |access-date=2021-12-14 |language=no}}
• 50x50px {{flagicon|Italy}} 1st Class / Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2 May 1960){{cite web |url=https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/32854 |publisher=President of Italy |website=www.quirinale.it |title=LJUNGDAHL Gen. Axel Georg |accessdate=17 February 2021 |language=it}}
• 50x50px {{flagicon|Denmark}} Commander First Class of the Order of the Dannebrog (before 1950){{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/statskal/1950/0431.html |title=Sveriges statskalender för året 1950 |year=1950 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Stockholm |language=sv |page=431}}
• 50x50px {{flagicon|Finland}} Commander, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland (before 1950)
• 50x50px {{flagicon|Austria}} Commander First Class of the Order of Merit of the Austrian Republic (before 1962)
• 50px {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Honorary Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (June 1956){{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1956-06-09/13/SVD |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Många ordnar utdelade vid drottningbesöket |trans-title=Many orders awarded at the Queen's visit |page=A13 |date=9 June 1956 |access-date=26 October 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}
• 50x50px {{flagicon|UK}} Commander of the Order of the British Empire (before 1950)
• 50x50px {{flagicon|USA}} Commander of the Legion of Merit (15 January 1958){{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1958-01-16/7/SVD |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Legion of Merit |page=A7 |date=16 January 1958 |access-date=1 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}
• 50x50px {{flagicon|France}} Commander of the Legion of Honour (senast 1955){{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/statskal/1955/0461.html |title=Sveriges statskalender för året 1955 |year=1955 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Stockholm |language=sv |page=461}}
• 50x50px {{flagicon|Italy}} 2nd Class / Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2 June 1959){{cite web |url=https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/32854 |publisher=President of Italy |website=www.quirinale.it |title=Ljungdahl Sig. Axel Georg |accessdate=17 February 2021 |language=it}}
• 50x50px {{flagicon|Finland}} Third Class of the Order of the Cross of Liberty with swords (before 1942){{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/statskal/1942/0426.html |title=Sveriges statskalender för året 1942 |year=1942 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer|location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=426}}

• {{cite book |last=Ljungdahl |first=Axel |title=Samvete och samhällsplikt: en undersökning av värnpliktiga som sökt vapenfri tjänst åren 1967-1976 |year=1985 |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|786096}}}}
• {{cite book |last=Ljungdahl |first=Axel |last2=Nordenskiöld |first2=Bengt |author-link2=Bengt Nordenskiöld |title=En flygofficers minnen |trans-title=Memories of an Air Force Officer |year=1972 |publisher=Norstedt |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=91-1-725652-6 |id={{LIBRIS|7151734}}}}
• {{cite book |last=Ljungdahl |first=Axel |title=Profetrörelser: deras orsaker, innebörd och förutsättningar |series=Stockholm studies in comparative religion, 0562-1070; 10 |year=1969 |location=Stockholm |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|8079115}}}}
• {{cite book |last=Ljungdahl |first=Axel |title=Ett sätt att se på livet: föredrag för Flygvapnets officerare |year=1960 |location=[Sverige] |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|12304785}}}}
• {{cite book |last=Ljungdahl |first=Axel |title=Studie över möjligheterna för hemortsbekämpning genom flygstridskrafter mot bakgrunden av erfarenheterna från det andra världskriget: tävlingsskrift, belönad med Kungl. Krigsvetenskapsakademiens medalj 1953 |year=1954 |publisher=[Krigsvetenskapsakad.] |location=[Stockholm] |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|1442414}}}}
• {{cite book |last=Ljungdahl |first=Axel |title=Studie över möjligheterna för hemortsbekämpning genom flygstridskrafter mot bakgrunden av erfarenheterna från det andra världskriget |series=Kongl. Krigsvetenskapsakademiens handlingar; 1954:2 |year=1954 |location=Linköping |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|2100439}}}}

{{Commons category|Axel Ljungdahl}}

{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-mil}}

{{succession box

| title = Västmanland Wing

| years = 1939–1942

| before = Gustav Ström

| after = {{no wrap|Gustaf Adolf Westring}}

}}

{{succession box

| title = Chief of the Air Staff

| years = 1942–1947

| before = Bengt Nordenskiöld

| after = Gustaf Adolf Westring

}}

{{succession box

| title = Third Air Group

| years = 1947–1954

| before = Folke Ramström

| after = Torsten Rapp

}}

{{succession box

| title = Chief of the Air Force

| years = 1954–1960

| before = Bengt Nordenskiöld

| after = Torsten Rapp

}}

{{s-npo|pro}}

{{succession box

| title = {{no wrap|President of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences}}

| years = 1955–1957

| before = Stig H:son Ericson

| after = Ivar Gewert

}}

{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ljungdahl, Axel}}

Category:1897 births

Category:1995 deaths

Category:Swedish Air Force generals

Category:People from Lund

Category:Commanders Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword

Category:Commanders First Class of the Order of Vasa

Category:Knights of the Order of the Polar Star

Category:Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences

Category:Burials at Norra begravningsplatsen

Category:Swedish air attachés

Category:Recipients of orders, decorations, and medals of Ethiopia