Odd Bull - World War II

World War II

In April 1940, Nazi Germany invaded Norway. Taken by surprise, the Norwegians were unable to mobilize their armed forces in time to conduct an effective defence and were conquered in a 62-day campaign. Many Norwegian servicemen however, including Bull, escaped by boat to Britain where they hoped to carry on the struggle.

Once in Britain, Bull attempted to organize some Norwegian air squadrons, but no airfields were available. Eventually however, the Canadian government offered the Norwegians the Toronto Island Airport as a training centre. As word got out about the centre, hundreds of Norwegians from around the world made their way to Canada to train as pilots.

In 1941 Bull returned to Britain to fly with RAF Fighter Squadron 242, but he along with a number of other Norwegian pilots were keen to form a Norwegian squadron, which they achieved in July of the same year. The Norwegian unit was assigned to provide fighter cover for Scapa Flow, but Bull was then recalled to the Toronto training camp in Canada to become Camp Commandant.

Bull was eventually reassigned to combat duty, flying Mosquitoes with RAF Fighter Squadron 107 during the D-Day landings in Northern France. With the liberation of Norway in May 1945, he returned to his home country. Bull notes that of the 750 Norwegians who joined the Allied air forces, 278 or more than one in three were killed - 203 in battle and 75 in training or other accidents.

After the war, Bull was made head of one of Norway's four regional commands. He later served as Chief of Staff to the Commander of the Air Force. In 1960 he was appointed Chief of Air Staff.

He was decorated with the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav in 1970.