Jan Jonsson (Swedish Air Force officer)

Jonsson was born on 22 September 1952 in Bräcke, Sweden, the son of captain Bertil Jonsson and his wife Yvonne (née Ölund).{{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/vemardet/2001/0583.html |editor-last=Jönsson |editor-first=Lena |title=Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 2001 |trans-title=Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 2001 |year=2000 |publisher=Norstedt |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=9172850426 |id={{SELIBR|8261515}} |page=583}} He was gliding as a 15-year-old in Halmstad and enrolled at the Swedish Air Force Flying School in Ljungbyhed in 1970.{{cite journal |url=http://www.aff.a.se/vf991_05.htm |journal=Vårt försvar: tidskrift |title=Aktiv generalinspektör - Jan Jonsson |first=Erik |last=Lidén |year=1999 |number=1 |publisher=Allmänna försvarsföreningen |volume=110 |location=Stockholm |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|3430365}} |access-date=5 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813030521/http://www.aff.a.se/vf991_05.htm |archive-date=13 August 2010 |url-status=dead }}

Jonsson served as sergeant pilot (fältflygare) and was assigned to Skaraborg Wing (F 7) from 1971 to 1978. Jonsson was promoted to second lieutenant in 1975 during his time at the Swedish Armed Forces School for Secondary Education in Uppsala. Jonsson then attended the Royal Swedish Air Force Academy (Flygvapnets krigsskola, F 20), also in Uppsala, from 1976 to 1978. At graduation, Jonsson was awarded the Chief of the Air Force's honorary gift as best student and F 20's sports shield for best athletic performance.{{cite journal |url=http://www.aef.se/Flygvapnet/Tidskrifter/FV_Nytt/Flygvapennytt_1978-3.pdf |journal=Flygvapennytt |title=Examen vid F20 |first=C-Å |last=Pernling |year=1978 |number=3 |publisher=Flygstaben |location=Stockholm |language=sv |issn=0015-4792 |id={{SELIBR|8257600}} |page=18}} Jonsson was assigned to Hälsinge Wing (F 15) from 1978 to 1986 and served as a sergeant pilot flying Saab 32 Lansen and Saab 37 Viggen. At Hälsinge Wing, Jonsson later became squadron commander of the 151st Attack Aircraft Squadron (151. attackflygdivisionen).{{cite news |url=https://www.dn.se/familj/till-minne-jan-pinnen-jonsson/ |newspaper=Dagens Nyheter |title=Till minne: Jan ”Pinnen” Jonsson |first=Kent |last=Harrskog |author-link=Kent Harrskog |date=2021-12-13 |access-date=4 February 2022 |language=sv}} Jonsson was assigned to the Air Staff's JAS Department from 1987 to 1989.

Jonsson was head of the tactical testing of Saab JAS 39 Gripen and was the head of the Air Force Tactical Center in Linköping from 1994 to 1997. He then served as commanding officer of the Southern Air Command from 1997 to 1998. Jonsson was then appointed Inspector General of the Air Force and head of the Air Force Center on 1 July 1998.{{cite journal |url=http://www.aef.se/Flygvapnet/Tidskrifter/FV_Nytt/Flygvapennytt_1998-2.pdf |journal=Flygvapennytt |title=Den 1 juli - ny framtid |first=Kent |last=Harrskog |author-link=Kent Harrskog |year=1998 |number=2 |publisher=Flygstaben |location=Stockholm |language=sv |issn=0015-4792 |id={{SELIBR|8257600}} |page=3}} He left the post in 2000 when he was appointed head of the Joint Forces Command (OPIL).{{cite journal |url=http://www.fht.nu/bilder/Flygvapnet/Flygvapennytt/fv_nytt_2_2000_ny_gi_for_fv.pdf |journal=Flygvapennytt |publisher=Flygstaben |title=Mats Nilsson. Ny GI för flygvapnet. |first=Peter |last=Liander |number=2 |year=2000 |location=Stockholm |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|8257600}} |page=38}} On 18 December 2003 his appointment was prolonged.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050307132912/http://www.opil.mil.se/index.php?lang=sve&c=news&id=19042 |url=http://www.opil.mil.se/index.php?lang=sve&c=news&id=19042 |publisher=Swedish Armed Forces |title=Chefen för Opil får förlängt förordnande |date=18 December 2003 |access-date=2 October 2018 |archive-date=7 March 2005 |language=sv}} On 1 September 2004, Tony Stigsson succeeded Jonsson. Jonsson then became available to the Supreme Commander for special assignments.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050307133140/http://www.opil.mil.se/index.php?lang=sve&c=news&id=23428 |url=http://www.opil.mil.se/index.php?lang=sve&c=news&id=23428 |publisher=Swedish Armed Forces |title=Ny chef för Operativa insatsledningen |date=26 August 2004 |access-date=2 October 2018 |archive-date=7 March 2005 |language=sv}} From 2005 to 2007, he served as commander of the Insatsprocessen{{cite book |url=http://hdl.handle.net/2077/59890 |title=Sveriges statskalender 2007 |editor-first=Christina |editor-last=Spiegelberg |year=2007 |publisher=Norstedts Juridik AB |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=9138323583 |id={{SELIBR|10414913}} |page=220}} (which in 2007 was renamed Joint Forces Command{{efn|Not to be confused with the Joint Forces Command which existed from 2000 to 2005.}}) at the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters. The Chief of Joint Operations was created in 2007 and Jonsson served in this position until 31 October 2007 when he left his position at his own request.{{cite web |url=https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/aktuellt/2007/08/ny-insatschef-i-forsvarsmakten/ |publisher=Swedish Armed Forces |title=Ny insatschef i Försvarsmakten |date=17 August 2007 |access-date=11 December 2017 |language=sv}}

Jonsson was a board member of the Civil Aviation Administration from 1999. He was a consultant of Hägglunds through the Svennerstål & Partners lobby company throughout 2008 and early 2009.{{cite news |url=https://www.resume.se/nyheter/artiklar/2011/02/17/toppmilitar-blev-konsult-i-perssons-lobbykampanj-/ |newspaper=Resumé |title=Toppmilitär blev konsult i Perssons lobbykampanj |first=Janne |last=Sundling |date=17 February 2011 |access-date=5 December 2017 |language=sv}} In 2009 he was appointed head of the Norrköping Fire Department and Linköping Rescue Service.{{cite news |url=http://www.nt.se/nyheter/generallojtnant-blir-ny-chef-for-brandforsvaret-5490504.aspx |newspaper=Norrköpings Tidningar |title=Generallöjtnant blir ny chef för brandförsvaret |first=Christer |last=Dandels |date=2009-09-03 |access-date=5 December 2017 |language=sv}}

In 1983, Jonsson married Anneli Viitanen (born 1956), the daughter of Arto and Yvonne Viitanen. They had three sons; Richard, Patrik and Christoffer.

Jonsson died at the age of 69 after a long illness. He was living in Linköping at the time of his death.{{cite web |url=https://www.ratsit.se/19520922-Jan_Bertil_Gustaf_Johnsson_Linkoping/CoHrJOe7B0-3Yyhbl4TeSwDMR1fjJ4ZcUOiQJHevbPQ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209122259/https://www.ratsit.se/19520922-Jan_Bertil_Gustaf_Johnsson_Linkoping/CoHrJOe7B0-3Yyhbl4TeSwDMR1fjJ4ZcUOiQJHevbPQ |publisher=Ratsit |website=www.ratsit.se |title=Jan Johnsson |access-date=9 February 2022 |archive-date=9 February 2022 |language=sv}} The funeral service was held at {{ill|Vreta Kloster Church|sv|Vreta klosters kyrka}} northwest of Linköping on 9 December 2021.{{cite news |url=https://lavendla.se/minnessidor/jan-pinnen-jonsson-2021-11-11/ |newspaper=Östgöta Correspondenten |title=Obituary |date=2021-11-27 |access-date=9 February 2022 |language=sv}}

• 1975 – Second lieutenant
• 19?? – Lieutenant
• 19?? – Captain
• 19?? – Major
• 19?? – Lieutenant colonel
• 19?? – Colonel
• 19?? – Senior colonel
• 1998 – Major general
• 2000 – Lieutenant general

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Air Force Tactical Center|years=1994–1997}}

{{s-aft|after=Anders Johansson}}

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{{s-bef|before=Arne Hansson}}

{{s-ttl|title=Southern Air Command|years=1997–1998}}

{{s-aft|after=Robert Palmgren}}

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{{s-bef|before=Kent Harrskog}}

{{s-ttl|title={{no wrap|Inspector General of the Air Force}}|years=1998–2000}}

{{s-aft|after=Mats Nilsson}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Air Force Center|years=1998–2000}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Joint Forces Command|years=2000–2004}}

{{s-aft|after=Tony Stigsson}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Insatsprocessen|years=2005–2007}}

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{{s-bef|before=None}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chief of Joint Operations|years=1 April 2007–31 October 2007}}

{{s-aft|after=Anders Lindström}}

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{{s-bef|before=Bo Waldemarsson}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commandant General in Stockholm|years=2006–2007}}

{{s-aft|after=Anders Lindström}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jonsson, Jan}}

Category:1952 births

Category:2021 deaths

Category:Swedish Air Force lieutenant generals

Category:People from Bräcke Municipality

Category:Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences