SVENSKA S.IIa (HE-4)

Source: Sweden (Svenska Aero AG)

Acquired: 1926 - 1927

Type: 2-seater floatplane, reconaissance

Engine: Rolls Royce Eagle 9 (12 cylinders, 360 hp)

Dimensions

Length: 12.65 metres

Wing Span: 17.49 metres

Height: 3.85 metres

Range:

Maximum Ceiling: 4,000 metres

Known Serial Numbers: 10, 11, 18, 19, 20, 21 (97).

Notes

• Purchased from the Swedish firm Svenska Aero AG, based in Liding, near Stockholm.
• The Svenska S-IIa was actually a Heinkel He-4 built under license from the Germans.
• The first two (#s 10 and 11) were received in October 1926 and the remainding six flew over in pairs in 1927.
• #10
  • Original Swedish factory serial number 30.
  • Flown over from Sweden to Liepaja from Sept.30 - Oct.7, 1926.
  • Destroyed in a fatal crash on June 28, 1934.
• #11
  • Original Swedish factory serial number 31.
  • Flown over from Sweden to Liepaja from Sept.30 - Oct.7, 1926.
  • September 28, 1932 - test flown by A.Zarins after a major rebuild and then returned to service.
  • December 2, 1933 - a commission is formed to determine #11s airworthiness for continued service and, as a result, if was struck off.
• #18
  • Original Swedish factory serial number 40.
  • Flown over from Sweden to Liepaja in 1927.
  • September 2, 1932 it was test flown by A.Veldums after a major rebuild and returned to service.
  • December 2, 1933 - a commission is formed to determine #18s airworthiness for continued service and, as a result, if was struck off.
• #19
  • Original Swedish factory serial number 41.
  • Flown over from Sweden to Liepaja in 1927.
  • Destroyed in a fatal crash on November 6, 1931.
• #20
  • Original Swedish factory serial number 42.
  • Flown over from Sweden to Liepaja From November 16-26, 1927.
  • Destroyed in a fatal crash on November 6, 1931.
  • [See Photos above]
• #21 (#97)
  • Original Swedish factory serial number 43.
  • Flown over from Sweden to Liepaja from November 16-26, 1927.
  • November 22, 1932 - a commission is formed to determine #21s airworthiness for continued service, and it passed the test.
  • This, the longest-lived of the S.IIa models, survived past the restructuring of the naval aviation units in May, 1936, continuing in service with the 8th naval reconaissance unit, renumbered as #97.
  • On October 25, 1939, the naval units are forced to abandon Liepaja to the Soviets and #97 is rebased to Kisezers, Riga.
  • June, 1940 - this aircraft, along with a handful of other naval aviation surviving machines, is surrendered to the Soviets.
  • [See Profile and Photo above]

Sources
Andersons, Edgars Latvijas Brunotie Speki un to Prieksvesture
Bruvelis, Edvins Latvijas Aviacijas Vesture
Humberstone, R. (ed) Latvian Air Force 1918 - 1940

Profile courtesy of Arvo Vercamer

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