Åge Lundström

Åge Lundström
Native name
Johan August Lundström
Born(1890-06-08)8 June 1890
Stockholm, Sweden
Died26 September 1975(1975-09-26) (aged 85)
Landskrona, Sweden
AllegianceSweden
Service / branchArmy (1910–1926)
Air Force (1926–1947)
Years of service1910–1947
RankMajor General
Commands4th Air Corps
Swedish Air Force Flying School
2nd Air Command
Other workAdjutant of the Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten
Chief of staff of Folke Bernadotte's delegation

Major General Johan August "Åge" Lundström (8 June 1890 – 26 September 1975) was a Swedish Air Force officer and horse rider who competed in the 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics.[1][2]

Early life

Lundström was born on 8 June 1890 in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of Ernst Lundström, an artist, and his wife countess Mathilda (née Rudenschöld).[3]

Career

Military career

Lundström was commissioned as an officer in 1910 and was appointed lieutenant in the Life Regiment Dragoons in 1916. He became an air force pilot in 1925 and was appointed captain in the General Staff in 1924 and captain of the Swedish Air Force in 1926. Lundström was a teacher in air warfare at the Royal Swedish Army Staff College from 1926 to 1929 and at the Royal Military Academy from 1928 to 31. He was promoted to major in 1932, lieutenant colonel in 1936, colonel in 1937, and major general in 1945. Lundström left the military in 1947.[4]

He was the adjutant of the Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten from 1929. Lundström was acting commanding officer of the 4th Air Corps from 1931 to 1932 and commanding officer of the Swedish Air Force Flying School from 1932 to 1943 and commanding officer of the 2nd Air Command from 1943 to 1946.[4] Lundström was the chief of staff and assistant to Count Folke Bernadotte during his mediator works in Palestine in 1948,[3] and was an eyewitness to Bernadotte's assassination.[5]

Sports career

Åge Lundström

Medal record
Olympic Games
Equestrian
Gold medal – first place 1920 Antwerp Team eventing
Gold medal – first place 1924 Paris Team jumping
Silver medal – second place 1920 Antwerp Individual eventing

Lundström was a Swedish champion in foil fencing in 1914, and a district champion in foil and épée fencing in 1933 and in foil fencing in 1938.[3] He was adjutant and teacher at the riding school at Strömsholm Palace in 1919–1921.[3]

At the 1920 Summer Olympics he and his horse Yrsa were part of the Swedish equestrian team, which won the gold medal in the team eventing competition. They also won the silver medal in the individual eventing. He competed in the individual jumping event with another horse, Eros I, and finished 14th.[6]

At the 1924 Summer Olympics Lundström and his horse Anvers won the gold medal with the Swedish jumping team. In the individual jumping event they finished 10th.[6]

Personal life

Lundström was the owner of the estate Hildesborg outside Landskrona.[3] In 1932 he married Margit von Geijer (born 1907), daughter of ryttmästare Wilhelm von Geijer and Countess Irma von Hallwyl. He was the father of Signe (born 1934), Irma (born 1936) and Åge (born 1943).[4]

Dates of rank

Dates of rank:[7]

Awards and decorations

Swedish

Foreign

Honours

References

  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Åge Lundström". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  2. ^ "Åge Lundström". Olympedia. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harnesk, Paul, ed. (1948). Vem är vem? [Who's Who?] (in Swedish). Vol. D. 4, Skånedelen. Stockholm: Vem är vem bokförlag. pp. 356–357. SELIBR 8198272.
  4. ^ a b c Davidsson, Åke, ed. (1966). Vem är vem? [Who's Who?] (in Swedish). Vol. 4, Skåne, Halland, Blekinge (2nd ed.). Stockholm: Vem är vem bokförlag. p. 529. SELIBR 53512.
  5. ^ "General Lundstrom Gives Eyewitness Account of Bernadotte's Death" (Press release). United Nations Department of Public Information. 18 September 1948. PAL/298. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Åge Lundström" (in Swedish). Swedish Olympic Committee. 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  7. ^ Åberg, Alf (1982–1984). "J August (Åge) Lundström". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). Vol. 24. National Archives of Sweden. p. 391. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  8. ^ Sveriges statskalender för året 1955 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1955. p. 467.
  9. ^ Sveriges statskalender för året 1955 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1955. p. 10.
  10. ^ Sveriges statskalender för året 1945 (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1945. p. 13.
  11. ^ Sveriges statskalender för året 1945 (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1945. p. 86.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Sveriges statskalender för året 1942 (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1942. p. 426.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Åge Lundström.
Military offices
Preceded by
Gösta von Porat
 Acting commanding officer of the 4th Air Corps
1931–1932 		Succeeded by
Georg Gärdin
Preceded by
Arvid Flory
 Head of the Swedish Air Force Flying School
1932–1943 		Succeeded by
Ingemar Nygren
Preceded by
None
 Commanding General of the 2nd Air Command
1943–1946 		Succeeded by
Folke Ramström