Wilhelm Mohr

PART I – The Contribution of the Norwegian Air Forces
The stage is set.
Because of the occupation of Norway, the strategic importance of the
Northern waters and regions to the Battle of the Atlantic was highly
accentuated. Even before North Norway fell, British forces had occupied
Iceland and placed army and air forces there for its protection and
to carry out sea and air operations.
The last six months of 1940 had seen very large losses inflicted by
the German submarines on merchant shipping and the threat seemed
ever increasing. In addition the cruiser «Scheer» was active, shortly
after followed by the «Hipper». Soon the battleships «Scharnhorst»
and «Gneisenau» were expected to play their part.
In late 1940 discussions between the Commander of the joint Norwegian
Air Forces HQ in London and the Air Ministry highlighted
the value of using our 18 available Northrop seaplanes in support of
the Costal Command activities in Icelandic waters. The tasks would
be maritime reconnaissance, control and search, anti-submarine operation,
convoy escort, transport and any other defence support needed
for Iceland proper that might arise.
The Northrop was a patrol aircraft on floats, single engine, speed
160 mph with endurance up to 7 hours. It had 4 wing-mounted
machineguns and 2 free, one for the navigator and one for the telegraphist.
It could carry 3 depth charges weighing up to a total of 1,200
pounds.
The first contingent of the squadron arrived in Iceland from the
UK on 12 April 1941, followed some months later by personnel from
«Little Norway». This brought the strength to about 200. At that time
the aircraft were transported by ship and, although 41 ships were sunk
in the Atlantic that month, they all arrived safely. The formidable task
of assembling the aircraft from crates and bringing them into use must
be recorded. On 23 June 1941, 330 became the first operational Norwegian
squadron established outside the country. It also became the
largest of the Allied air units stationed in Iceland.
As only one airfield existed on the island (by Reykjavik), it was found
opportune to have the seaplane squadron split into three parts: «A»
flight to remain in Fossvagur near Reykjavik, which was also the site
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