#1219 JAS 39C Gripen
Purchased products will not feature the Squadron Prints watermark
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1219 - SAAB JAS 39C Gripen, 39220, 172 Fighter Squadron, F17 Blekinge Wing, Ronneby, Swedish Air Force.
172 Squadron was formed in 1944 as part of F 17 Blekinge Wing at Ronneby as a bomber squadron flying the B3 (Junkers Ju 86K). A few years later the SAAB T18B bomber and torpedo aircraft was introduced, beginning a long lineage of indigenous aircraft produced by the Swedish manufacturer to be flown by the squadron. In 1956, F 17 became the first wing to fly the SAAB Lansen, and 172 Squadron was to fly the A 32A, the ground attack version of the aircraft, into the early 1970s. In 1973, 172 Squadron’s role was changed to that of air defence, and it relinquished its Lansen aircraft in favour of the SAAB J 35F Draken interceptor. Just five years later, the squadron’s role changed once more and it became a reconnaissance squadron, flying the SH/SF 37 variants of the SAAB Viggen. In 1993 the squadron’s SH/SF 37 variants were replaced by the more advanced JA 37, and 172 Squadron once again became an air defence squadron. The squadron’s history of flying a wide variety of different roles has prepared it well for its current swing role missions performed by the SAAB JAS 39 Gripen, with which the “Gators” of 172 Squadron have been equipped since January 2003.