Frank Cervell

Colonel Frank Rutger Cervell (22 February 1907 – 3 September 1970) was an officer in the Swedish Air Force and a fencer. He won bronze medals in the team épée event at the 1948 Summer Olympics[1][2] and 1937 World Championships, as well as a world championship silver in 1938.[3]

Frank Cervell
Birth name	Frank Rutger Cervell
Born	22 February 1907 Norrköping, Sweden
Died	3 September 1970 (aged 63) Stockholm, Sweden
Allegiance	Sweden
Service/branch	Swedish Air Force
Years of service	1930–1963
Rank	Colonel
Commands held	Bråvalla Air Force Wing

Frank Cervell

Personal information
Birth name	Frank Rutger Cervell
Born	22 February 1907 Norrköping, Sweden
Died	3 September 1970 (aged 63) Stockholm, Sweden
Sport
Sport	Fencing
Event(s)	Épée
Club	FFF, Stockholm
Medal record Representing  Sweden Olympic Games 1948 London Épée, team World Championships 1937 Paris Épée, team 1938 Piešťany Épée, team

Career

Cervell was born on 22 February 1907 in Norrköping, Sweden, the son of consul Gustaf Johansson and his wife Anna Valentin. He was commissioned as an officer in the Swedish Navy in 1930 with the rank of fänrik. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1934 and transferred to the Swedish Air Force in 1936 where he was promoted to captain in 1940 and major in 1944. Cervell served as air attaché in London and Oslo from 1943 to 1946 and as head of department in the Air Staff in 1946. He was then commanding officer of the Bråvalla Air Force Wing (F 13) from 1950 to 1959. Cervell was promoted to lieutenant Colonel in 1947 and to colonel in 1951.[4] In 1959, he was appointed as air and naval attaché in Paris. Cervell served in this position until 1963.[5]

He became Aide-de-camp to the Crown Prince in 1943 and chief Aide-de-camp to King Gustaf VI Adolf in 1951.[4] Cervell was chairman of the board of the Gillette (Sweden) AB, Ludvig Wigart & C:os AB and H Unér AB.[4] He was CEO of the Swedish Defence Material Export Promotion Group.[5]

Personal life

In 1931, he married Louise Wigart (born 1907).[5]

Dates of rank

• 1930 – Fänrik
• 1934 – Lieutenant
• 1940 – Captain
• 1944 – Major
• 1947 – Lieutenant Colonel
• 1951 – Colonel

Awards and decorations

Cervell's awards:[4]

• Commander First Class of the Order of the Sword
• Knight of the Order of Vasa
• King Gustaf V's Jubilee Commemorative Medal (1948)
• Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy
• Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
• Knight of the Legion of Honour
• French de l'éducation physique
• National Federation of Swedish Women's Auxiliary Defence Services' Silver Medal (Riksförbundet Sveriges lottakårers silvermedalj)
• French Air Force aviation bagde
• Italian Air Force aviation bagde

References

1. "Olympics Statistics: Frank Cervell". databaseolympics.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
2. "Frank Cervell Olympic Results". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
3. Frank Cervell. Swedish Olympic Committee
4. Harnesk, Paul, ed. (1962). Vem är vem? 1, Stor-Stockholm [Who's Who? 1, Greater Stockholm] (in Swedish) (2nd ed.). Stockholm: Vem är vem. p. 251. SELIBR 53509.
5. Lagerström, Sten, ed. (1968). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1969 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1969] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 171. SELIBR 3681519.