Wilhelm Mohr

Wilhelm Mohr. On World War II
from No. 2 Group of Bomber Command. The Norwegian Wing would
form part of 84 Group linked to the 1 st Canadian Army.
At this time the Norwegian Air Forces HQ was preparing for a third
fighter squadron to be part of the existing wing. This must be judged
in the context of the central Norwegian joint defence planning. The
Government had ambitions of establishing forces that could join with
forces being raised in Sweden. It was hoped that these would unite
with the resistance groups in Norway and form a national contingent
to liberate the country. This force would require air elements. In this
respect the British authorities gave very little hope that any outside
forces might be diverted from the main Allied task that lay ahead. On
the Norwegian side the hope was nourished that the Fighter Wing of
three squadrons could be equipped with Mustangs, which had a greater
range than Spitfires and could be deployed from a base in Scotland.
Although the above is known, it has not been possible to document
the discussions that must have taken place between the Norwegian
Defence Staff, the Norwegian Air Forces HQ and the Air Ministry
on this issue; an issue which must be considered rather unrealistic in
view of the urgent priority for long-range escorts for the day bombers
over Germany. There has been recorded, however, in regard to
the Norwegian Wing in the Tactical Air Force, a calculation made by
the Air Ministry that pilot losses in the invasion and the months ahead
would considerably exceed those experienced so far. The approximately
750 ground crew would likewise be exposed. This led to an alternative
proposal by Norway that the third squadron, in accordance with
the Government’s Agreement, be established as part of the air defence
forces in the UK. In the end the Air Ministry proposal for the Norwegian
Wing prevailed, apparently accepted without any expressions to
the contrary except that the question of a third Fighter Squadron was
deferred.
The Norwegian concurrence must be deemed pragmatic as well as
tolerant, though hardly popular in all of the national policy-making
circles. It departed from the original Government Agreement yet there
no longer existed a threat towards Britain. It is of interest to note that
the name of Norway in regard to «Overlord» is not to be found. The
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