Ivar Sandström

Ivar Sandström (September 18, 1889 — September 2, 1917) was a Swedish aviation pioneer and one of Sweden's earliest aviators. He died September 2, 1917 at the age of 28, when his plane crashed.

Born in Visby, Sweden, he was the youngest son of seven children. His parents were sea captain Bernhard Sandström and Maria Wilhelmina Hallin. Sandström became a navy officer: cadet in 1905 and sublieutenant in 1911. He then started to take an interest in aviation, which was still in its infancy. In summer 1915, he joined Enoch Thulin's flying school in southern Sweden. He was one of the first aviators to obtain the international flying licence, after passing the examination on August 31. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1915 and then flew continuously. He was known to be one of the country's most skillful, calm and experienced aviators.

On September 2, 1917, Lieutenant Sandström, who was assigned to the Navy's aviation corps department in Landskrona, prepared for a flight together with lieutenants Krokstedt and Beckman. His Morane-Saulnier plane was not quite ready for start so he started later than the other two, in a southwards direction towards the city of Malmö.

Witnesses saw the airplane suddenly turned over and the pilot fell out. He was found in a field near "Malmö", still alive but badly hurt. He was brought to the hospital but died during the transport. His plane continued to fly and then crashed in a cemetery.

Ivar Sandström's burial was almost that of a head of state. His coffin was brought in procession through the streets of "Malmö" to the railway station. A great number of high grade officers honored the deceased. His remains were conveyed by train and then by destroyer "Hugin" to the isle of Gotland. In his hometown, "Visby", the coffin was carried on land by seamen and brought in cortege through the town to the Old Cemetery where he was buried. Crowds of people followed him to his last dwelling.

References

* Swedish newspaper articles from 1917
* Svensk Flyghistorisk Förening (Swedish Aviation History Association)
* Family archives.