Wilhelm Mohr

PART II
The Deliberations for Further Goals
PART I – The Contribution of the Norwegian Air Forces
Creation of a joint Air Forces HQ in London.
Purpose of Norwegian forces. British doubts about
Norwegian attitude. The planning proceeds.
In the meantime a joint HQ of the Army and Naval Air Force elements
was formed in London, presenting itself as the «Royal Norwegian Air
Forces HQ» within the Norwegian Armed Forces structure. This was a
practical measure for the benefit of its single Royal Air Force counterpart,
the Air Ministry. It functioned as an amalgamation of the two
elements into one single Service authority, although the organisational
ratification of this change was not carried out until much later.
This development did not signify that the RNAF HQ was independently
free to deal with its corresponding British authority (The same
applies to the Navy and Army). Some background information seems
appropriate here.
There is little doubt that the British regarded Norway as an Allied
nation. Our merchant fleet had already made an essential contribution
to the war effort. Yet we provided no fighting elements. The Norwegian
Government on foreign soil must undoubtedly have felt its position of
uncertainty and weakness, not least in regard to the occupied population
left behind. Thus its first stumbling efforts may well have left the
British uncertain whether a lingering attitude of ingrained Norwegian
neutralism still prevailed.
While these matters were deliberated on a political level, the established
Norwegian Defence Staff increasingly asserted its position as
a joint military planning authority. In accordance with Government
ambitions this pertained to acquiring national influence and participation
in allied operations directed towards Norway, and in particular to
the coordinating of forces outside Norway with resistance movements
within the country. The overriding aim was to have maximum influence
in the process that could bring about the liberation of Norway.
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