Norwegians in the RAF
 

Information required on RNoAF aircrew on 85 Sqn RAF in WW2

Re: Norwegians in the RAF
 

Svein Heglund was with 85 Sqn. He has written about this period himself in his book "Høk over høk" (http://www.nakshop.no/product.php?productid=16581).

Nils

Re: Norwegians in the RAF
 

There were quite a few Norwegians serving with 85 Sqn.
Lt. (later Captain and Major) Tarald Weisteen served from July -43 until June -45. His radar/nav was F/O "Freddie" French. Weisteen was credited with several kills, also V-1's.

Lt. (later Captain) Johan Råd and Leif Løvestad served from April -43 until March -44 (Råd) and December -44 (Løvestad)

Lt. Per Adolph Thorén with Rad/nav P/O Benge from August -43 until KIA 08 October -43.

Capt. Per Olivarius Bugge and rad/nav Claus Møllerop Bjørn served from August -43 until February -44 (Bugge) and May -45 (Bjørn). Bugge changed his name to Peter Bugge, and as such continued post-war as a test pilot with De Havilland, Later Hawker Siddeley.

Sgt. Jan Otto Richard Bugge (no relation to P.O. Bugge) served as rad/nav with pilot F/L Woods from October -43 until KIA 08 Feb -44.

Captain Erik Petterson Fossum served from January -44 until May -45. His rad/nav was initially Capt. Bjørn. He left the Squadron in October -44, being replaced by F/O Hider. Credited with 1 kill.

Captain Morten Ree served from February -44 until December -44, his rad/nav being Capt. C. Bjørn, who left in October-44.

Captain Svein Heglund served from September -44 until May -45. His rad/nav was F/O Symon. Heglund became Norway's top-scoring pilot with several kills while serving with 85 Sqn.

Olav Djønne joined the Squadron in April -45 but did not become operational before the war ended inMay. He is not mentioned in the ORB, and his log book has disappeared so I have very little info on this pilot.

Stein

Re: Norwegians in the RAF
 

Dear Stein, many thanks for your response to my query about Norwegians on 85 Sqn during WW2. I am writing an article for the 85 Sqn association magazine and although I have some information on the individuals during the war I'm tryin to find more about their later lives. Tarald Weisteen is still a member of our association but he's now over 90 years old and communication is difficult.

Once again thanks for your help.

Kind Regards

Ed Durham (King Cobra)

Re: Norwegians in the RAF
 

Stein,
Any particular reason for the large number of Norwegians at this squadron? A special connection?

For comparison I have found that apart from the number of Danes in the Norwegian squadrons during the war, No. 234 Squadron was the squadron that had the largest number of Danes attached to it during the war.

Regards

Mikkel Plannthin

Re: Norwegians in the RAF
 

I have no idea as to why there were so many Norwegians on 85 Sqn. Could be that night fighting was regarded as very "high tech" and that the Norwegian H.Q. regarded it as desirable to gain experience with this technology which could come in very handy with the generally poor weather conditions prevalent in Norway.
Many of the 85 Sqn Norwegians had previously served with 604 Sqn on Beaufighters.
Stein

Re: Norwegians in the RAF
 

Gentlemen, John Cunningham was the Sqn Cdr of 85 Sqn when most of the Norwegians were posted in. He was also a Flt Cdr on 604 when there were several Norwegians on that sqn. This could be the link.

KC

Re: Norwegians in the RAF
 

John Cunningham was in fact the Sqn Cdr of 604 Sqn (Beaufighters) which had several Norwegian aircrew. He had a great admiration for them and when he became the Cdr of 85 Sqn he specifically sought out his old Norwegian crews who were completing their rest tours (Jimmy Rawnsley in his book "Night Fighter")

Ed Durham (King Cobra)