Camp Little Norway
The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNAF) training center had two centers: Muskoka Airport for flying training, and Vasle Skaugum for a recruiting and recreation center. Funding for this was done completely by the Norwegian government-in-exile in London through the Norwegian Merchant Marine. According to the British in the book Camp Little Norway in Pictures, "This merchant Marine has supplied Great Britain with fifty percent of her oil and one-third of her foodstuffs during the war. The Norwegian government also is paying for all Norwegian military activities overseas, including the Norwegian Army and Navy in action, amounting altogether to the sum of about $1,000,000 in American Money -- a year." In total during the war, over 2,500 Norwegian airmen were trained at Camp Little Norway.
Wings for Norway
The Norwegian Air Force Training Center in Canada received $400,000 in gifts for planes and military equipment and other activities. A large part of this was thanks to the Camp Little Norway Association. To show their appreciation, the Air Force asked the Royal family including Crown Prince Olav, Crown Princess Märtha and the Royal Children to christen the gift planes from the donors. View videos of the christening of the planes here. The planes carried various names, including El Gaucho III, Minnesota, and the Spirit of Little Norway. To explore more images and videos from Camp Little Norway and the endeavors of the RNAF, explore the digital collection of Campbell Norsgaard.Learn more about the life of the soldiers, the Royal Family at Camp Little Norway, and the Camp Little Norway Association below!