Bernt Balchen

Bernt Balchen, D.F.C., (23 October 1899 – 17 October 1973), was a Norwegian-American polar (and general) aviation pioneer. Born at the farm Myren in Tveit, just outside Kristiansand, Norway, Balchen, at his death, became one of the few Norwegian-born people buried at Arlington Cemetery.

Related Topics:
D.F.C. - 23 October - 1899 - 17 October - 1973 - Norwegian-American - Polar - Aviation - Kristiansand - Norway - Arlington Cemetery

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During World War II, Balchen was responsible for setting up the pilot training camp/school for Norwegian exiled soldiers, "Little Norway", outside Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Later during the war, as a colonel in the U.S. Army Air Force, he oversaw the establishment of USAAF's polar base at Thule, Greenland, before moving on to the European Theatre to run Luleå-Kallax Air Base* in northern Sweden (set up for harassing and denying air superiority to Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe over Finland and occupied Norway). After the war, Balchen became a U.S. Air Force colonel.

Related Topics:
World War II - Little Norway - Toronto, Ontario - Canada - Colonel - U.S. Army Air Force - Thule - Greenland - Theatre - Luleå - Kallax - Sweden - Nazi Germany - Luftwaffe - Finland - U.S. Air Force

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(* Another Norwegian at Kallax during the same period, serving under Balchen, and getting to be a good friend of him, was marine biologist and explorer-to-be Thor Heyerdahl, later of Ra I and II and Kon-Tiki fame.)

Related Topics:
Thor Heyerdahl - Kon-Tiki

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