Moving Image

Wings for Norway, Part 2, circa 1942-1943

Dublin Core

Title
Wings for Norway, Part 2, circa 1942-1943
Identifier
p0592_film_12
Date
circa 1942-1943
Description
Part 2 of 3. Informational film about the Royal Norwegian Air Force's training facilities, "Camp Little Norway," in Canada. Includes the camp's recreation center Vesle Skaugum north of Toronto, visits by the Royal Family, the dedication of the Muskoka Airport near Gravenhurst, and views of airplanes flying. Film available online here.

It is a strong likelihood the filmmaker was Campbell Norsgaard, the official photographer for the Royal Norwegian Air Force during World War II.

Exact transcription of captions included in description.
Funding to digitize a portion of the Jacob Stefferud papers provided to the Norwegian American Historical Association through the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, a component of the Minnesota Clean Water, Land and Legacy constitutional amendment, ratified by Minnesota voters in 2008.
Extent
00:16:23
Language
English
Format
Independent films
Rights
In Copyright
https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission for the rights-holder(s).
Spatial Coverage
Ontario, Canada
Table Of Contents
00:00:00 Black screen.
00:00:02 "In the summer time 'Vesle Skaugum' is used as a recreation center for the men of the Air Force." Royal Norwegian Air Force personnel run into a lake.
00:00:29 "Five year old Prince Harald, the future king of Norway, enjoys his first visit to Vesle Skaugum." Prince Harald rows a rowboat on a lake.
00:01:08 "A cold swim on a chilly October morning." Prince Harald and camp commander Ole Reistad swim in the lake.
00:02:02 "At this time of the year the recruits are stationed at Lakeside Home on an island near Toronto." Royal Norwegian Air Force personnel perform exercises with rifles.
00:02:47 "In February, 1942, the building of an additional camp started at Muskoka Airport, 120 miles north of Toronto." Construction work at Muskoka Airport.
00:03:21 "With great speed a big hangar, barracks, and mess buildings are erected." Construction work at Muskoka Airport.
00:03:56 "In May, 1942, the camp was ready for the flyers and the Elementary Flying School is moving in. Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Martha of Norway arrive for the dedication ceremony." Crown Prince Olav, Crown Princess Martha, and Ole Reistad walk in front of a group of people. Airplanes fly overhead. A crowd is gathered in front of a podium.
00:04:47 "The Crown Prince delivers the dedication speech." Crown Prince Olav speaks at a microphone.
00:05:13 "Air Vice Marshal G. O. Johnson." Air Vice Marshal G. O. Johnson speaks at a microphone.
00:05:22 "Air Vice Marshal L. D. D. McKean." Air Vice Marshal L. D. D. McKean speaks at a microphone.
00:05:33 "The Crown Prince congratulates the Norwegian architect and the Norwegian and Finnish Canadian expert workmen." Crown Prince Olav talks with the architect and workmen.
00:06:02 "Later Prince Harald inspected the camp." Prince Harald, Crown Princess Martha, and Ole Reistad greet Royal Norwegian Air Force personnel.
00:06:13 "Thrift and economy are watchwords of the R.N.A.F. The men know that the expenses of the training program are paid for with the earnings of the Norwegian Merchant Marine."
00:06:28 "Pigs are no common sight in a training camp, but they represent an economical way of utilizing scraps." Royal Norwegian Air Force personnel feed pigs.
00:06:56 "The mascot of the camp is a brown bear. It was given to the camp as a tiny cub and had to be raised on milk from a bottle. It is now a Coca Cola fiend." Royal Norwegian Air Force personnel feed a bear cub from a bottle. Puppies play. A cat sits on the ground.
00:08:13 "Hard study is combined with plenty of exercise and healthy outdoor life." Royal Norwegian Air Force personnel perform various exercises.
00:09:02 "Canada will always live in the hearts of the Norwegian boys." Royal Norwegian Air Force personnel canoe and fish on a lake. Falling leaves on a road and lake.
00:10:06 "Flying colors of Norway." Aerial views of Royal Norwegian Air Force airplanes flying.
00:11:04 "It takes many months of intensive training before the boys are ready for combat overseas, but Norwegian air and ground crews trained at 'Little Norway' have, in steadily increasing numbers, already seen action on different battlefields since the middle of 1941."
00:11:30 "They are fighting in 'Norwegian squadrons' and as individual members of the Royal Air Force." Aerial views of Royal Norwegian Air Force airplanes flying.
00:12:21 "The Norwegian fighter squadrons in England showed their ability - especially at Dieppe - being officially credited with one of the highest scores of enemy planes brought down by any of the Allied squadrons and representing 15 per cent of all the losses inflicted upon the German Air Force in that fight." Aerial views of Royal Norwegian Air Force airplanes flying.
00:13:11 "Norwegian patrol bomber units in England and Iceland are operating over Norway and the Atlantic, convoying Norwegian and Allied ships and hunting submarines." Bomber airplane on water.
00:13:52 "Norwegian pilots are also serving in Ferry Command all over the world." Airplanes flying.
00:14:12 "The Norwegian Merchant Marine, fourth largest in the world, has since the beginning of the war, supplied Great Britain with 50 per cent of its oil and gasoline and one-third of its other war necessities."
00:14:34 "At times these ships carry a cargo of special significant value: new well-trained boys from 'Little Norway', eager to join the common fight for democracy and the freedom of their beloved homeland." Nortraship merchant ships on the sea.
00:15:54 Black screen.
00:16:23 Film ends.
Bibliographic Citation
[Indicate the cited item here]. Jacob Stefferud Papers. Norwegian American Historical Association, Northfield, Minnesota.
Has Format
MP4

Citation

Norsgaard, Campbell, “Wings for Norway, Part 2, circa 1942-1943,” Digital Collections, accessed October 16, 2026, https://www.norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/show/26309.