Norwegian Air Force fighters 1940
In 1939 the
Norwegian government was very concerned about the threat of war in
Europe.
The ministry
of defence was desperate to buy more and more modern weaponry for the
armed forces. In their quest for more modern aeroplanes they turned to
France and England and tried to place orders for modern fighter planes.
However both countries were also rearming their own air forces and were
not very enthusiastic to export planes to Norway that they could also
use at home.
However both
countries also saw the benefit of a stronger northern Europe and in the
beginning of 1939 a number of export deals were signed, the first
aircraft arriving in April. Further aircraft followed at the end of
1939 and beginning of 1940. In total the
Norwegian Air Force received 56 Morane MS-406 fighters, 48 Hawker
Hurricanes and 66 Boulton Pauls Defiant. The Norwegians also wanted
Spitfires and Dewoitine D-520s but both of these could not be delivered
because of domestic needs. When in the
April of 1940 the German tried to invade Scandinavia the Luftwaffe was
surprised by the modern Norwegian fighters, the delivery of which had
not been noted by the Germans. As a result the German airlift of troops
and equipment supporting the invasion was essentially destroyed and
many transport planes and troops were lost. This enabled
the British to land troops in Norway and together with the Norwegian
forces they succeeded in driving the Germans out for the country by the
18 of April. After this Norway allowed the British to establish air
bases in the south of the country which were used to mount bombing
raids on northern Germany from 1941 onwards. |