Pilots of fighter aircraft honored with memorial

Spitfire.Photo: Tor Erik Schrøder / NTB scanpix

A new memorial in honor of a Norwegian Spitfire aircraft that participated at the end of World War II was unveiled at Grimbergen in Belgium Friday.

– It is an important part of the Norwegian and Allied war effort during World War II that was honored today.

With this memorial, we take with us the memory of the Norwegian pilots who were willing to sacrifice their lives for our freedom, said Mr. Øystein Bø (H), who was present at the ceremony.

The initiator behind the memorial and highlighting is the Veteran Scramble association with Belgian Hangar flying, and it was unveiled by family members from four fallen airmen.

It was also organized over flights with Spitfire and formation of the Belgian Air Force.

The Norwegian fighter wing 132 (Norwegian) Wing, consisting of the Norwegian 331 (Norwegian) Squadron and 332 (Norwegian) Squadron, flew Spitfires from England and continental Europe during WWII.

They were the largest military unit under Norwegian command and operated in France, the Netherlands and Belgium from August 1944 to April 1945. The longest stay was for two and a half months in Grimbergen outside Brussels.

Of the Norwegian pilots from the wing fell 26 and 11 ended in captivity or went into hiding. The majority of the personnel were Norwegian, but there were also British, Dutch and other nationalities.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today