Evert Båge

Major General Evert Karl Erik Båge (25 August 1925 – 21 January 2021) was a Swedish Air Force officer. Båge served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1980 to 1984 and as head of the Swedish Armed Forces Staff College from 1984 to 1990.

Early life Båge was born on 25 August 1925 in Alingsås Parish, Älvsborg County, Sweden, the son of Erik Båge, a repairer, and his wife Selma. Båge passed studentexamen in 1945.

Career Båge graduated from the Swedish Air Force Flying School in 1948 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in Svea Wing. Båge served there from 1948 to 1958 and he was promoted to lieutenant in 1950. In 1958, Båge was promoted to captain, whereupon he served in the Third Air Group (Tredje flygeskadern, E 3) and Air Staff from 1958 to 1963. He was promoted to major in 1962. He was head of Operation Command I in the Defence Staff from 1963 to 1966, and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1965 and was head of Section 1 of the staff of the Eastern Military District from 1966 to 1968.

In 1969, he was promoted to colonel, after which he was commander of Jämtland Wing from 1969 to 1973. He was promoted to senior colonel on 1 October 1974 after which he served as head of Operations Command 2 in the Defence Staff from 1973 to 1978. On 1 October 1978, Båge was promoted to major general and assumed the position of chief of staff of the Upper Norrland Military District. He then served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1980 to 1984 and head of the Swedish Armed Forces Staff College from 1984 to 1990.

Personal life In 1948, Båge married Gunnel Brandt (born 1925). Their second daughter was born on 26 January 1958 in Ward 6 at Karolinska Hospital.

Death Båge died on 21 January 2021 in Arild, Sweden. The funeral service was held in Brunnby Church.

Dates of rank 1948 – Second lieutenant 1950 – Lieutenant 1958 – Captain 1962 – Major 1965 – Lieutenant colonel 1969 – Colonel 1 October 1974 – Senior colonel 1 October 1978 – Major general

Awards and decorations

Honours Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1981)