From airfield to shopping centre
Today, Barkarby shopping centre is a shopping mecca with music blaring from loudspeakers. But not so long ago there was a different sound. Then it was the rumble of aeroplane engines that filled the place. Here is the story of Barkarby's airfield and all the preserved buildings that today offer opportunities for bargains.
Many people know that Stockholm Quality Outlet in Barkarby, a few kilometres north of Stockholm, is one of Sweden's largest shopping centres and Sweden's largest outlet with around 70 stores with more than 200 brands.
But what not everyone knows is that the area where Stockholm Quality Outlet is located today has an exciting history that dates back to the early 1900s, when flying machines were an amazing invention and shopping was something only the upper classes did. Stockholm Quality Outlet is located on ancient land and has a rich cultural history. Over the years, many businesses have been located on the site. Here is the story of the land on which Stockholm Quality Outlet stands - and the life that has taken place there.
The wings of history
Aviation is a good example of an accelerating technological development that started with the industrialisation of society. The first powered flight took place in the United States in 1903, when the Wright brothers managed to fly 36.5 metres with their plane, aptly named The Flyer.
- The Wright brothers set the whole world on its ear. Aircraft were being built everywhere. They were built in workshops, in storage rooms and even in living rooms," says Åke Lundberg, who has more than 40 years of technical service in the air force.
International flights
Just ten years later, in 1913, aviation had grown so big that it was operating from a field in Barkarby. It was named Hägerstalund airfield. Initially, the field was used for various types of military training flights around Stockholm, but in 1919 international flights for passengers and mail began.
Seven years later, on 1 July 1926, the Army and Navy Air Corps merged to form the Swedish Air Force. In connection with the merger, an air section was added at Hägerstalund airfield, which was renamed Barkarby airfield.
The standard from the King
When Bromma Airport opened in 1936, all commercial operations were moved there, which meant that Barkarby airfield was given exclusive access to the air force. Germany was upgrading its air force, and Sweden decided to strengthen its defence with an air wing in the Stockholm area. Two years later it was inaugurated Royal Swedish Air Force F8 Barkarby, the Air Force's first fighter wing with a clear main purpose: to defend Stockholm's airspace against hostile air attacks.
- "It's clear that the escalation in the run-up to the Second World War had a strong impact on how the Swedish government viewed defence," says Lundberg.
The F8 air wing received St Erik, the patron saint of Stockholm, as its wing emblem. On 6 June 1939, His Majesty King Gustav V himself handed over the F8's flag with St. Erik on it. It was a sign of the esteem in which Royal Swedish Air Force F8 actually held.
”The best tinsmith in the world”
In the years that followed, the flotilla became a central part of Swedish air defence. During its heyday, in the 1950s, there were 126 military aircraft of eleven different types at the flotilla. Up to 100 pilots were attached to the squadron. Not to mention numerous aircraft, electrical and weapons mechanics, signallers, tinsmiths, upholsterers, tailors, cooks and medical staff. It is no coincidence that the F8, at this time, was the single largest employer in Järfälla municipality.
- We had the best sheet metal workers in the world, because they sat by hand and did all the work. When inspecting, they had magnifying glasses to see every little crack. It used to be said that the British were bad at their job in painting, compared to us Swedes, laughs Bosse Pettersson, former car mechanic at F8.
The F8 was popular. It was a highly respected workplace, with an important mission - at home and abroad. For from Barkarby, international military operations were organised to countries such as Finland, Lebanon and Congo, as well as participation in projects to Antarctica. When there was a crisis in Lebanon and Congo, the F8's tasks consisted of providing all-round support to the operation.
F8 was one of the Air Force's largest flotillas
The squadron's fighter squadrons were disbanded in 1961-62, replaced by two anti-aircraft missile squadrons, and the squadron was reorganised as an air corps. However, flying activity did not diminish, and a lively aviation programme continued, including transport flights and rescue helicopters. The air corps continued for 13 years before it was decided to close it down in 1974.
On 30 June 1974, the remaining operations at F8 are phased out on a permanent basis. The airfield remains as a war base in the Air Force's war organisation and Barkarby airfield begins to open up to the public.
- Looking back at the days of the F8, it should also be said that the F8 was allowed to represent the Air Force on foreign visits. Lord Mountbatten, then England's Commander-in-Chief, to name but one (Lord Mountbatten was the uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and is one of the characters in Netflix's hit series ”The Crown”). Famous conscripts have also walked through the corridors of F8. Both Kurre Hamrin and Povel Ramel did their military service here, says Bosse Pettersson.
Many buildings preserved
However, it should be added to the story that the end of one era means the beginning of a new one. With the military decommissioning, Järfälla municipality could start planning for a completely new neighbourhood. A neighbourhood that came to be called Barkarbystaden.
Today, a large number of buildings from the F8 era have been preserved within the flotilla area, such as the office building, the officers' quarters, the cadet barracks, the non-commissioned officers' mess, the military and private canteen and the hospital.
Several of these buildings are located on the Stockholm Quality Outlet site. All of the buildings with yellow plastered facades are protected as cultural monuments. The properties include ten buildings that were originally used for the air wing. They were built between 1939 and 1943 in true functionalist style. A cultural history assessment has been made by Järfälla municipality's cultural secretary in consultation with the then city architect's office. Of the buildings, the following have high conservation value:
Flygförrådet (today: vacant premises, former Kavat, Odd Molly)
This was where all the equipment for aviation, signalling, commissariat, construction and medical supplies that came to the flotilla was dispatched. Small arms, ammunition and standard and specialised tools were stored here. It was in this building that Bosse, as airman Pettersson, in 1953 got his first machine gun. A green-painted M/45 Carl Gustaf. Bosse had to buy his own padlock for his locker, to lock in his machine gun. Since the weapons were stored in the conscripts' own lockers. However, ammunition for the air force was stored out in the field in special armouries. The air force store also contained a workshop for safety equipment and parachute packing, as well as staff accommodation.
The building was rebuilt for Stockholm Quality Outlet in 1997-98.
The guard and arrest building (today a Food hall)
The guardhouse has been home to many activities, but in recent decades it has mainly been a place where visitors to Stockholm Quality Outlet can get a bite to eat. The guardhouse was started in 1938 and completed in 1939. The tower was added after remodelling in 1943, and for more than 35 years it was the home of the conscripted guard and fire brigade. Both naval police and conscripts served here. But it was also in this building that the detention centre was located. Perhaps it was someone who had been on the run? Or someone who had been out on the town and come home late? There were clear rules and if they were not followed, you were banned from the barracks or, in more serious cases, you had to sit in the cage under the supervision of the guards.
On the other side of the road (now part of Ikea's car park) there was once the now demolished fire station with fire, ambulance and rescue vehicles. Opposite the flotilla guard was also a - now demolished - barracks (K 5) from 1946, where the guard and fire brigade were located.
Rebuilt for Stockholm Quality Outlet in 1997-98. Since September 2021 there is a Food hall here.
Flygverkstaden (today: Clarks, Headspot, Lexington & Levi's)
The aircraft workshop was built during the same period as the guard and detention building, 1938-1939. In this building, maintenance and major repairs were carried out on the flotilla's more than 120 aircraft, of eleven different types.
Propeller aircraft such as the J8 Gloster Gladiator, J9 Republic Seversky EP-1, J22 FFVS, J28B De Havilland Vampire (the fighter squadron's first jet), SAAB J29 ”Tunnan” and the British J34 Hawker Hunter were brought into the workshop for maintenance. Between 1956-1962, the helicopters HKP3, HKP4, transport aircraft and the Rb 68 also underwent material overhaul in the aviation workshop.
After F8's closure - 1973-91 - the Air Force film and television studio was located in the southern half of the building, as was Ostermans Aero AB with its helicopter operations in the northern half, 1975-97.
Rebuilt for Stockholm Quality Outlet in 1997-98.
Car workshop/garage (today: Mevan Kolgrill)
At the end of the 1930s, after a major investment in the F8 air wing, this building was built to house both a car workshop and a garage. Here, service and repairs were carried out on the flotilla's, the Air Staff's and the Air Administration's large number of vehicles such as cars, lorries, buses, special vehicles, power and emergency units. When a new garage was built elsewhere, the entire building became a car and tyre workshop and a lubrication and washing hall.
Rebuilt for Stockholm Quality Outlet in 1997-98.
Non-commissioned officers' mess
Following drawings by architect Ture Sellman in 1941, the non-commissioned officers' mess was built. This building housed unmarried NCOs between 1943 and 1974, where they took their meals and coffee breaks. Larger parties for the NCOs were also held here. The early years were characterised by a strict hierarchical structure, with messes divided into the various officer groups. However, this was relaxed in the 1980s. In 2024, the building was renovated with new façade plaster and a new visitor car park for the outlet was built next to it.
Motorbocken (formerly Vagabond)
When this building was constructed, in 1942-43, only the upper part of this building existed. In this building, the piston engines of aircraft such as J8 Gloster Gladiator, J9 Republic Seversky EP-1 and J22 FFVS were tested after major repairs and supervision in the flotilla workshop. The lower part of this yellow building was added in 1997-98 when it was rebuilt for the Stockholm Quality Outlet.
Panncentralen (today: vacant premises, previously: Delicato)
The boiler centre of the flotilla workshop was located in this building. The boiler centre played an extremely important role in supplying the buildings around the flotilla workshop with heat and hot water. The other boiler centre, located in the flotilla area, produced heat and hot water for the other buildings and hangars in the flotilla area. The building was constructed in 1938-39.
Rebuilt for Stockholm Quality Outlet in 1997-98.
The hangar building
In the very first hangar building you can today find the Husqvarna Concept store. It is not located in the Stockholm Quality Outlet area, but adjacent to it, at Barkarby shopping centre. In that building there was Hangar 1, and the First Fighter Division. The hangar-like buildings at SQO where, for example, the Gant store is located, were built in 1998, while the other hangar-like building, at the other end of Stockholm Quality Outlet, was built in 2016. It currently houses Hugo Boss and Tommy Hilfiger.
Three hooks
Deployed at the Stockholm Quality Outlet, there are three massive hooks on facades around the area. We believe they were used to set up masking nets to hide aircraft and other vehicles from the sky. As the hooks are angled downwards, it might be appropriate to have a pole holding the net up higher in the centre, a bit like a tent. Unfortunately, we haven't found any photos of what it might have looked like. If you as a reader possibly have access to such a photo, preferably from F8 in Barkarby, you are welcome to send it to us.
A curious fact is that the cover picture of ABBA's album Arrival was taken in a Bell 47 helicopter, out on the airfield here in Barkarby.
Royal Svea Air Wing F8 Comrades Association
After the closure of F8, there was a vacuum. There was an enormous amount of knowledge about the air wing - a workplace that had meant so much to so many people - and it was decided that 36 years of intensive flying should not be a thing of the past. Therefore, the Royal Swedish Air Force F8 Comrades Association was established. An association that will nurture, strengthen and develop togetherness, camaraderie and the good relationship that has always existed between military, civilian and conscripted personnel.
The purpose of the association is to preserve the traditions of the Royal Swedish Air Force. It is a non-profit organisation that promotes contact between the defence forces and its members. In this way, it promotes knowledge about the defence and becomes part of the defence information system. The association will also be a link between the members, the defence and the Järfälla area.
As a member of the comrades' association, you do not need to have worked at F8. If you are generally interested in aviation, defence and military history, you are also welcome! If you want to know more, see here: http://www.f8kamratforening.nu/
Name of the organisationMr Bo Pettersson
Background: Spent almost 16 years at F8 and then 30 years in Järfälla municipality, in the leisure sector. Bosse possesses solid experience from association life. He has been a national hockey coach and has a passionate interest in sport. When the Stockholm Sports Federation turned 100 years old, he was awarded with its highest honour, the Gold Service Medal.
Age: 87 years.
Do today: Served as treasurer for more than 20 years on behalf of the F8 comrades' association, and on the board of directors for 25 years.
Did then: He arrived as an airman on 11 November 1953 and was discharged on 11 December 1954. Bosse started his time as a civilian on 13 December 1954, as requested. In fact, the F8 was one of the largest employers in the region. Bosse worked as a car mechanic and electrician throughout the heyday, right up until 1969. It was a job role that could not be underestimated, as the cars leaving the squadron were expected to cover large areas of the country. Bosse also had time to be chairman of the local trade union and a member of the F8 company board.
Others say: ”This is a man with a rare experience in organisational life. Running a non-profit organisation with a man like Bosse is quite easy.” Björn Kristoffersson, Chairman of the F8 Comrades Association.
Name of the organisation: Åke Lundberg
Background: Has a genuine interest in aeroplanes and has always been fascinated by their mechanics. His first contact with the air force was in 1950 at F4 in Östersund. His interest and knowledge intensified during his years at Sweden's most powerful air wing.
Age: 87 years.
Do today: Committed member of the F8 Comrades Association, an organisation that works to educate about, and preserve the memory of, the air wing.
Did then: F8 had two anti-aircraft missile divisions to defend Sweden - with missiles - against potential enemies. The entire southern coast of Sweden was equipped with missiles and Åke was responsible for ensuring that this division was of the highest quality. Ever since 1965, he has been directly involved in Barkarby's development to some extent. He was the last military commander at Barkarby, who together with five conscripts kept the airport open for military flights. He then came to work on the field on behalf of the municipality, all the way into the 2010s.
Others say: ”What Åke doesn't know about aeroplanes is not worth knowing.” Björn Kristoffersson, Chairman of the F8 Comrades Association.
