The distinctly shaped nose of the recce variant of the Saab Draken.

Rare recce variant of the Saab Lansen.

Photographer: Lars Soldeus.

More a patrol, training and light transport aircraft than a fully fledged bomber, the Ca 313 attracted large orders from France and Britain, but these were cancelled by Italy's entry in WWII. A 900-aircraft German order also remained largely unfulfilled. Delivery of 84 machines to Sweden was completed, however. Here the type was reputed to be a flying coffin. The cabin of this one does appear to be alarmingly flimsy, although it is only a non-airworthy flying replica, containing a few original parts.

In 1948, Sweden bought 50 Spitfire PR.19s for its F11 wing at Nyköping, and these high performance recce Spits undertook several clandestine missions to photograph Soviet bases. This machine, RAF serial PM627, did not see Swedish service but was acquired by the Flygvapenmuseum in 1982.