Camp Little Norway Main Menu Introduction Invasion of Norway April 9-June 10, 1940 Liberation of Norway Resources from NAHA

Camp Little Norway

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In 1939, Bernt Balchen came to the United States on a crucial mission to negotiate purchasing aircraft and ammunition for the Norwegian Government. Balchen -- a dual citizenship -- had extensive contacts in the aviation industry. Then in 1940 with the the Norwegian Government-in-exile in London, his new goal was to set up a training camp and school for expatriate Norwegian airmen and soldiers in Canada. Balchen negotiated directly with Canadian government officials to obtain use of airport facilities at the Toronto Island airport on Lake Ontario known as "Little Norway." The camp officially opened in November 1940. The first commander was Hjalmar Riiser-Larsen, and then Major Ole Reistad took over early 1941. In May 1942, the training camp was moved to a Muskoka Airport, north of Toronto.

The Royal Norwegian Air Force training center had two training centers: Muskoka Airport for flying training, and Vasle Skaugum for a recruiting and recreation center. Funding for this was done completely by the Norwegian government-in-exile in London -- through the Norwegian Merchant Marine. According to the British, "This merchant Marine has supplied Great Britain with fifty percent of her oil and one-third of her foodstuffs during the war. The Norwegian government also is paying for all Norwegian military activities overseas, including the Norwegian Army and Navy in action, amounting altogether to the sum of about $1,000,000 in American Money -- a year." [Camp Little Norway in Pictures] In total during the war, over 2,500 Norwegian airmen were trained at Camp Little Norway.







Wings for Norway

The Norwegian Air Force Training Center in Canada received $400,000 in gifts fro planes and military equipment and other activities. A large apart of this was thanks to the Camp Little Norway Association. To show their appreciation, the Air Force has asked the Royal family including Crown Prince Olav, Crown Princess Martha and the Royal Children to christen the gift planes from the donors. 

This page has paths:

  1. Resistance of Arne M. Bjorndal NAHA
  2. Introduction NAHA

Contents of this path:

  1. Life at Camp Little Norway
  2. Camp Little Norway Association, Inc.

This page references: