Moving Image

Wings for Norway, Part 3, circa 1942-1943

Dublin Core

Title
Wings for Norway, Part 3, circa 1942-1943
Identifier
p0592_film_13
Date
circa 1942-1943
Description
Part 3 of 3. Informational film about the Royal Norwegian Air Force's training facilities, "Camp Little Norway," in Canada. Includes airplanes flying, the Royal Family helping dedicate airplanes funded by supporters in different countries, daily life at Camp Little Norway, training and skiing at the camp's recreation center Vesle Skaugum north of Toronto, and ski jumping. 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
00:17:33
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.
00:00:01 "The first lesson in the air, practicing take-offs and landings." Royal Norwegian Air Force airplane takes off and lands. Ground crew members with signal flags.
00:01:12 "A number of these planes were bought with funds contributed by Norwegians or friends of Norway in South America and the United States and christened by the Royal Family." Camp Little Norway commander Ole Reistad, and Royal Family members Crown Princess Martha, Prince Harald, Princess Astrid, and Princess Ragnhild help christen airplanes. Airplanes named "El Gaucho III,” "Minnesota,” "State of New York,” “Mexico 1,” "Denmark 1,” "El Gaucho IV,” and "Spirit of Little Norway.” Pilot operates "El Gaucho III" airplane.
00:04:14 "Radio operators are needed for the planes and on the ground. They get a stiff training." Radio operators in training.
00:05:26 "Hard work gives good appetites. The men in the kitchen are doing their bit." Cooks stirring pots and making bread.
00:06:48 "All bread used in Little Norway is baked in the camp. Many of the cooks and bakers were previously working on Norwegian whalers and merchant ships that were torpedoed." Cooks baking bread.
00:07:24 "The shoemaker enjoys a good joke." A shoemaker at his workstation.
00:07:44 "Women's voluntary contribution." Women sew clothing items.
00:08:29 "There are no letters from home for the boys in 'Little Norway' as there is no mail communication with their homeland. However, many correspond with friends in the United States and Canada and the arrival of mail and gifts are happy occasions." Personnel receive mail and write letters.
00:10:00 "Before the boys are admitted to the special courses, they have to take several weeks initial training. This includes drilling, learning military routine and discipline. In the winter months the recruits are trained at 'Vesle Skaugum', situated about 160 miles north of Toronto." Vesle Skaugum with snow on the ground.
00:10:56 "Bought as a recreation camp with funds from the Men's Canteen and a special gift from a Norwegian, it also accommodates hundreds of soldiers in training."
00:11:14 "A big log building of Norwegian architecture has been added to the original houses and turned over to the Air Force for the duration." Log building at Vesle Skaugum.
00:11:45 "Here the boys are trained as ski troops. For a possible winter invasion of Norway it is of great value that the Air Force is thoroughly familiar with the military aspects of skiing." Personnel ski in a line. Sled dogs pull a sled. Personnel in ski gear stand at attention.
00:13:22 "Lt. Colonel Reistad, the Air Officer Commanding the Royal Norwegian Air Force Training Command in Canada, inspecting a ski unit." Ole Reistad inspects a ski unit doing shooting and skiing exercises.
00:15:21 "Through healthy outdoor life the men get excellent physical training before they start on the special courses." Ski unit members in a snowball fight.
00:16:00 "Ski-jump competitions in U.S. and Canada when off duty." A ski jump competition.
00:17:02 "Fighter pilot Ola from Little Norway, All American Ski Champion 1942." Fighter pilot Ola ski jumping.
00:17:29 Black screen.
00:17:33 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 3, circa 1942-1943,” Digital Collections, accessed October 16, 2026, https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/show/26310.