Stig Norén

Norén was born on 10 May 1908 in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of the commander of the 1st rank Karl Norén and his wife Marianne (née af Sillén). He passed studentexamen in Gothenburg in 1927 and became fänrik in the Swedish Navy in 1930.[1] Norén served aboard aircraft cruiser HSwMS Gotland, the Swedish Navy so far the only aircraft-carrying ship. Thus, he was also one of the few Swedish pilots who had experience in aircraft starting with aircraft catapult.[2] Norén belonged to the group of young naval officers who early made their way over to the young and growing Swedish Air Force.[3] Norén was promoted to underlöjtnant in 1932 and underwent flight training from 1932 to 1933 and was promoted to löjtnant in 1934.[4][5] He was then transferred to the Swedish Air Force where he became löjtnant in 1936. Norén underwent the general course of the Royal Swedish Naval Staff College from 1937 to 1938 and served mainly at the Air Staff from 1938 to 1943.[4]

Norén was promoted to kapten in 1940 and underwent the staff course of the Royal Swedish Air Force Staff College from 1941 to 1942. He was a teacher at the Royal Swedish Air Force Staff College from 1943 and was promoted to major in 1944.[4] Norén was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1947 and was head of the Operation Department at the Air Staff from 1947 to 1949 and was appointed commanding officer of the Skaraborg Air Force Wing (F 7) the following year. He was promoted to colonel in 1951.[5] Norén was commanding officer of Skaraborg Air Force Wing from 1950 to 1957 and Inspector of the Control and Reporting System of the Swedish Air Force (Inspektören för luftbevakningen) from 1957 to 1960. As Inspector of the Control and Reporting System he contributed to the realization of the construction of the modern combat management and air surveillance system called STRIL 60.[3]

Lieutenant General Norén test a MiG-21 aircraft in the Soviet Union in 1972.

In 1960 Norén was promoted to major general and appointed Chief of the Air Staff. As Chief of the Air Staff, he was one of the promoters of a joint executive management of the entire Swedish defence.[2] Norén stayed as Chief of the Air Staff until 1964 when he was appointed commanding officer of the First Air Group (E 1). After two years Norén was promoted to lieutenant general and was appointed military commander of the Southern Military District (Milo S).[6] He was the first military commander of Milo S with overall responsibility for the army, navy and air force under the new military area organisation.[3] Norén was appointed Chief of the Air Force in 1968 and was then faced with several difficult decisions. Increased financial resources coupled with increasing demands on the aircraft's performance and the effects of weapons imbued the defense debate. In the military command he conveyed his views in a way that created respect. He was then able to fulfill the Air Force's requirements, so that the Swedish air defense still would remain a significant factor in the Swedish defense.[2] Norén would remain as Chief of the Air Force until 1973 when he retired and was promoted to full general.[7]

In 1935 he married Ulla Nordenson (1910–1996), the daughter of Göran Nordenson and Märta Bagge.[5] He was the father of Märta (born 1938) and Ebba (born 1939).[4] Norén died on 10 September 1996, a few months after his wife, and they were both buried on 18 October 1996 buried at Norra begravningsplatsen in Stockholm.[8]

• 1930 – Fänrik (Swedish Navy)
• 1932 – Underlöjtnant (Swedish Navy)
• 1934 – Lieutenant (Swedish Navy)
• 1936 – Lieutenant (Swedish Air Force)
• 1940 – Captain
• 1944 – Major
• 1947 – Lieutenant Colonel
• 1951 – Colonel
• 1960 – Major General
• 1966 – Lieutenant General
• 1973 – General

• Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1948)[6]
• Honorary member of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences (1971)[10]