Carl Olof Dahlbeck (1884-1930), early aviator
1884 Born in Sjungbyhed, Sweden.
Joint MD of Skefko Ball Bearing Co
1930 Obituary[1]
The Late Captain C. O. Dahlbeck. — We regret to note the death on October 11, at Gothenburg, Sweden, of Captain Carl Olof Dahlbeck, managing director of Messrs. The Skefko Ball Bearing Company, Limited, Luton. Captain Dahlbeck, who was only 46 years of age, left Luton about a fortnight ago for one of his frequent visits to Sweden; he contracted a severe chill while travelling, and passed away after a week’s illness. Captain Dahlbeok became joint managing director of the Company in January, 1927, following a long period in Sweden as chief of publicity for the organisation. Upon the death, not quite two years ago, of Mr. J. M. Jolly, joint managing director, he was placed in sole charge of the Company’s affairs. His association with England dates back many years; in 1911, when 27 years of age, he came to Hendon as an officer of the Swedish Navy, to qualify for his air pilot’s certificate. Returning to his native land, he became the third Swede to obtain a pilot’s certificate, and much of his subsequent naval career was devoted to flying, about which he wrote and published several books. He resigned his commission in order to accept an offer on the part of the Lithuanian Government to organise the air defence of that country.
This commission took eight months, at the end of which he had established a corps comprising eight pilots and a school of flying accommodating 40 pupils, there being 19 machines on the establishment. Captain Dahlbeck was a member of the council of the Swedish Chamber of ' Commerce in London, and was also a prominent member 6f the Anglo-Swedish Society. He became a member of the Institute of Metals in 1929.