Saab B 17 joins Swedish historic flight

Late last year the distinctive Saab was passed into the hands of a new operator

The world’s only airworthy Saab B 17A dive-bomber (17239/SE-BYH) was transferred from Saab to the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight (SwAFHF) on December 20 2023.

Flying for the first time in 1943 with the Swedish Air Force’s F 7 Wing at Såtenäs, it was nicknamed Blå Johan (Blue John). After sustaining damage in a 1951 landing accident, it was later converted to a target tug before official retirement in June 1968. Saab later restored the aircraft and it flew again in 1997, making numerous appearances across Scandinavia. It will now be based at Såtenäs with the rest of the SwAFHF fleet.