Wilhelm Mohr

PART V – An address to the Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy on the fifty-year anniversary
anisms it demands nurturing and care. Each of you probably feel the
responsibility – but allow me still on this occasion to narrow this down
to one word: quality. Continued undisputable quality, for ourselves, but
also clearly visible within the Defence Forces as a whole, within our
society, for our Allied friends. Whatever the future may hold, quality
will always create a safe route. Quality is also a goal in itself – a key to
inspiration and job satisfaction – and thereby contributing to safety.
This being said, the remaining part is what I most want to say to you
here at the Air Force Academy. The enthusiasts. Take good care of your
enthusiasm and what it stands for, curiosity, inspiration and the creative.
I pointed to the enthusiasts before the War. How lucky we were
during the War. We were able to recruit personnel with a broad variety
of backgrounds, all with motivation from within themselves, who produced
results whatever the job threw at them, who stood for attitudes
and conduct we could not live without. The enthusiasts are a gift to
each and everyone.
My first message therefore goes to the Academy: Let the attending
officers learn what they need, let them develop and unfold – and use
them – but do not tame them too much. Free enthusiasts. It is from
them this service will acquire its resilience.
My second message goes to each of you, as you grow into this service.
Or perhaps it is rather an experience in life which has given me
joy and usefulness, and I therefore want to share with you. It came to
me as learning from a slightly older RAF officer – well known to us
Norwegians – as we stood together on an airfield in Holland at the
end of the war. What would come after the war Our thoughts could
wander into so many subjects. He was a ’regular’, and I remember well
what he said: if you stay in this service there will always be challenges
to you personally, from the elements, from the technical apparatus,
from technology itself with innovations that will introduce themselves.
And you will deal with young people who are competent. That
will be inspiring. Then this advice came in addition. Remember, he
said, if you stay and with time will deal with these people, procedures
or such – ask yourself what you yourself thought in a similar situation
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