Torsten Rapp

General Bo Torsten Rapp (20 April 1905 – 23 March 1993) was a senior Swedish Air Force officer. Rapp started as a naval officer in 1926 before transferring to the Swedish Air Force in 1928. Over the years, he steadily climbed the ranks, serving in various roles and completing training courses. Notable milestones include becoming a lieutenant colonel in 1944 and commanding the Blekinge Wing in 1944. He later assumed important positions such as Vice Chief of the Air Staff and Chief of the Air Force, contributing to significant reforms in Swedish defense, including improved inter-service coordination. Rapp eventually became the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces in 1961, a position he held until 1970, overseeing substantial changes in military organization. After retiring from active duty, he continued his service in the Swedish Air Force reserve until 1981.

Early life Rapp was born on 20 April 1905 in Hedvig Eleonora Parish in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of Johan David Rapp, a wholesaler, and his wife Eva Hedvig Gustava (née Swartz). He passed studentexamen at Saltsjöbadens samskola in the spring of 1923 and became a sea cadet on 29 June 1923.

He served at the Organization Department of the Air Staff from 1 June 1935 to 1938 and became a captain in the Swedish Air Force on 30 June 1937. Rapp became a member of the board for the Defence Forces Central Civilian Employee Office (Försvarsväsendets centrala civilanställningsbyrå) on 1 January 1938 and division commander of the F 2 Hägernäs in 1938. He was acting head of the Organization Department of the Air Staff in 1941 and became head on 1 July 1943. Rapp was a member of the 1942 Reserve Officer Experts (1942 års reservbefälssakkunniga) from June to November 1942 and he became a major in the Swedish Air Force on 1 July 1942 and a lieutenant colonel on 1 April 1944. Rapp left the post on 30 September 1970 and he was then general in the Swedish Air Force reserve from 1 October 1970 to 1981.

Death Rapp died on 23 March 1993 in in Stockholm. He was interred on 3 August 1993 at in Ingarö, Stockholm County.

Military career

In 1923 Rapp joined the Swedish Navy as a sea cadet 1926–1928 Acting Sub-Lieutenant Swedish Navy 1928–1930 Lieutenant Swedish Navy 1930–1937 Lieutenant Swedish Air Force 1937–1942 Captain Swedish Air Force 1942–1943 Major Swedish Air Force 1944–1947 Lieutenant Colonel, Wing commander Blekinge Wing 1947–1948 Colonel, Wing commander Blekinge Wing 1948–1951 Vice Chief of the Air Staff 1951–1954 Commander of Fourth Air Group (Fjärde flygeskadern, E 4) 1954–1956 Major General, Commander of Third Air Group (Tredje flygeskadern, E 3) 1957–1960 Vice Chief of the Royal Swedish Air Force Materiel Administration 1960–1961 Lieutenant General, Chief of the Air Force 1961–1970 General, Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces

Dates of rank 7 October 1926 – Acting sub-lieutenant (Navy) 6 October 1928 – Lieutenant (Air Force) 30 June 1937 – Captain 1 July 1942 – Major 1 April 1944 – Lieutenant colonel 1 July 1947 – Colonel 1 October 1955 – Major general 1 July 1960 – Lieutenant general 1 October 1961 – General

Awards and decorations

Swedish

Honours Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1959) Member of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences (1962)