We finally arrived at North Weald after more than two hours on the road from Hendon. We were only 68 minutes behind schedule – almost like a rush-hour arrival at Heathrow. Having parked the car, Arthur Moreton welcomed us to Ad Astra House and the North Weald Airfield Museum. What could be more appropriate than a nice cup tea. Conversation soon turned to the airfield during the Second World War and its Norwegian connection.

The two Norwegian RAF fighter squadrons 331 and 332 flew Spitfires out of North Weald from May/June 1942 forming 132 (Norwegian) Fighter Wing - part of the RAF's 11 Group. In August 1942, 331 and 332 Squadron participated in the Dieppe raids (Operation Jubilee), and the Commander of 11 Group, Scott-Malden, said after the hard fights: "In my opinion the Norwegians carried out one of the finest jobs in the raids and there is no better fighting group in England". The two squadrons claimed 16 kills and 14 probables.

In the spring of 1944 the squadrons moved out of North Weald to prepare for their role as fighter bombers and tactical air superiority fighters during the D-Day Landings. In August 1944, 132 Wing moved to Caen, France and participated in the liberation of the Netherlands and took part in Operation Plunder (the crossing of the Rhine). 132 Wing came back to North Weald the last days of April 1945 but didn't stay long. The two squadrons moved to Dyce outside Aberdeen only days later where they started to convert to Spitfire MK XVI and MK IXe. On 21 September 1945, 331 and 332 Squadrons was disbanded as RAF units, and the control was passed to the Royal Norwegian Air Force (or Luftforsvaret as is its correct Norwegian name). To this day, the squadrons have retained their fighter role but now flying the slightly more potent F-16.

The RAF code for 331 Squadron was FN and legend has it that that "FN" was an abbreviation for "First Norwegian" and "For Norway".

Arthur told us about that the airfield still is closely connected to the two Norwegian squadrons - with frequent visits to both sides of the North Sea. The last visit of Norwegian F-16s was in August 2006 - during the airfield's 90th anniversary celebrations.

On the lawn outside Ad Astra House is a very interesting memorial. Rather there are two memorials - the arch-shaped North Weald Memorial Wall and a small obelix-like memorial raised by Norwegian aviators who served in the UK during WW2.

If you want to know more about the Airfield Museum or the activities around airfield, here are some few links you need to visit:

North Weald Airfield Museum

North Weald Airfield Users Group

North Weald Flying Group

But the museum is best live (open Sundays from April to October between noon and 5 pm), and you will find it here.