An F-16AM landing at RIAT 2014
The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian Armed Forces on 10th November 1944. The RNoAF’s peacetime establishment is approximately 2,430 employees (officers, enlisted staff and civilians). 600 personnel also serve their draft period in the RNoAF. After mobilization the RNoAF would consist of approximately 5,500 personnel.
The infrastructure of the RNoAF includes seven airbases (at Ørland, Rygge, Andøya, Evenes, Bardufoss, Bodø and Gardermoen), one control and reporting center (at Sørreisa) and three training centers at Værnes in Trondheim, Kjevik in Kristiansand and at KNM Harald Haarfagre / Madlaleiren in Stavanger.
History
Military flights started on 1st June 1912. The first plane, HNoMS Start, was bought with money donated by the public and piloted by Hans Dons, second in command of Norway’s first submarine HNoMS Kobben (A-1). Until 1940 most of the aircraft belonging to the Navy and Army air forces were domestic designs or built under license agreements, the main bomber/scout aircraft of the Army air force being the Dutch-originated Fokker C.V.
World War II
Build-up for World War II
Before 1944, the Air Force were divided into the Norwegian Army Air Service (Hærens Flyvevaaben) and the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service (Marinens Flyvevaaben).
In the late 1930s, as war seemed imminent, more modern aircraft were bought from abroad, including twelve Gloster Gladiator fighters from the UK, and six Heinkel He 115s from Germany. Considerable orders for aircraft were placed with United States companies during the months prior to the invasion of Norway on 9th April 1940.
The most important of the US orders were two orders for comparatively modern Curtiss P-36 Hawk monoplane fighters. The first was for 24 Hawk 75A-6 (with 1200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-SC3-G Twin Wasp engines), 19 of which were delivered before the invasion. Of these 19, though, none were operational when the attack came. A number were still in their shipping crates in Oslo harbour, while others stood at the Kjeller aircraft factory, flight ready, but none combat ready. Some of the Kjeller aircraft had not been fitted with machine guns, and those that had been fitted still lacked gun sights.
The ship with the last five 75A-6s that were bound for Norway was diverted to the United Kingdom, where they were taken over by Royal Air Force (RAF). All 19 Norwegian P-36s that were captured by the German invaders were later sold by the German authorities to the Finnish Air Force, which was to use them to good effect during the Continuation War.
DH.82A Tiger Moth in Royal Norwegian Air Force markings
The other order for P-36s was for 36 Hawk 75A-8 (with 1200 hp Wright R-1820-95 Cyclone 9 engines), none of which were delivered in time for the invasion, but were delivered to “Little Norway” near Toronto, Ontario, Canada. There they were used for training Norwegian pilots until the USAAF took over the aircraft and used them under the designation P-36G.
Also ordered prior to the invasion were 24 Northrop N-3PB float planes built in on Norwegian specifications for a patrol bomber. The order was made on 12th March 1940 in an effort to replace the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service’s obsolete MF.11 biplane patrol aircraft. None of the type were delivered by 9th April and when they became operational with the 330 (Norwegian) Squadron in May 1941 they were stationed at Reykjavík, Iceland performing anti-submarine and convoy escort duties.
1937–1940 aircraft marking
Escape and exile
The unequal situation led to the rapid defeat of the Norwegian air forces, even though seven Gladiators from the fighter wing (Jagevingen) defended Fornebu airport against the attacking German forces with some success—claiming two Bf 110 heavy fighters, two He 111 bombers and one Junkers Ju 52 transport. Jagevingen lost two Gladiators to ground strafing while they were rearming on Fornebu and one in the air, shot down by Future Experte Helmut Lent, injuring the sergeant pilot. After the withdrawal of allied forces, the Norwegian Government ceased fighting in Norway and evacuated to the United Kingdom on 10th June 1940.
Gloster Gladiator 423 in 1938–1940
Only aircraft of the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service had the range to fly all the way from their last remaining bases in Northern Norway to the UK. Included amongst the Norwegian aircraft that reached the British Isles were four German-made Heinkel He 115 seaplane bombers, six of which were bought before the war and two more were captured from the Germans during the Norwegian Campaign. One He 115 also escaped to Finland before the surrender of mainland Norway, as did three M.F. 11s; landing on Lake Salmijärvi in Petsamo. A captured Arado Ar 196 originating from the German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper was also flown to Britain for testing.
For the Norwegian Army Air Service aircraft the only option for escape was Finland, where the planes would be interned but at least not fall into the hands of the Germans. In all two Fokker C.V.s and one de Havilland Tiger Moth made it across the border and onto Finnish airfields just before the capitulation of mainland Norway. All navy and army aircraft that fled to Finland were pressed into service with the Finnish Air Force, while most of the aircrew eventually ended up in “Little Norway”.
The Army and Navy air services established themselves in Britain under the command of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Norwegian air and ground crews operated as part of the British Royal Air Force, in both wholly Norwegian squadrons and also in other squadrons and units such as RAF Ferry Command and RAF Bomber Command. In particular, Norwegian personnel operated two squadrons of Supermarine Spitfires: RAF 132 (Norwegian) Wing consisted of No. 331 (Norwegian) Squadron and RAF No. 332 (Norwegian) Squadron. Both planes and running costs were financed by the exiled Norwegian government.
Royal Norwegian Air Force Spitfire
In the autumn of 1940, a Norwegian training centre known as “Little Norway” was established next to Toronto Island Airport, Canada.
The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) was established by a royal decree on 1st November 1944, thereby merging the Army and Navy air forces. No. 331 (Norwegian) Squadron defended London from 1941 and was the highest scoring fighter squadron in South England during the war.
Up until 8th May 1945, 335 persons had lost their lives while taking part in the efforts of the RNoAF.
Post-war air force
After the war the Spitfire remained in service with the RNoAF into the fifties.
In 1947, the Surveillance and Control Division acquired its first radar system, and around the same time the RNoAF got its first jet fighters in the form of de Havilland Vampires.
In 1949 Norway co-founded NATO, and soon afterwards received American aircraft through the MAP (Military Aid Program). The expansion of the Air Force happened at a very rapid pace as the Cold War progressed. Throughout the Cold War the Norwegian Air Force was only one of two NATO air forces—Turkey being the other—with a responsibility for an area with a land border with the Soviet Union, and Norwegian fighter aircraft had on average 500–600 interceptions of Soviet aircraft each year.
Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter Norwegian Air Force
In 1959, the Anti-Aircraft Artillery was integrated into the Royal Norwegian Air Force.
In 1999, Norway participated with six F-16s during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.
21st century RNoAF
In October 2002, a tri-national force of 18 Norwegian, Danish, and Dutch F-16 fighter-bombers, with one Dutch Air Force KC-10A tanker, flew to the Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan, to support the NATO ground forces in Afghanistan as a part of the Operation Enduring Freedom. One of the missions was Operation Desert Lion.
On 27th–28th January, Norwegian F-16s bombed Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin Fighters in the Adi Ghar Mountains during the beginnings of Operation Mongoose.
In 2004, four F-16s participated on NATO’s Baltic Air Policing operation.
Since February, 2006, eight Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16s, joined by four Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16s, have been supporting NATO International Security Assistance Force ground troops mostly in the southern provinces of Afghanistan. The air detachment is known as the 1st Netherlands-Norwegian European Participating Forces Expeditionary Air Wing (1 NLD/NOR EEAW).
A Westland Sea King
2010s
In 2011, a detachment of F-16s were sent to enforce the Libyan no-fly zone. In a statement, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre condemned the violence against “peaceful protesters in Libya, Bahrain and Yemen”, saying the protests “are an expression of the people’s desire for more participatory democracy. The authorities must respect fundamental human rights such as political, economic and social rights. It is now vital that all parties do their utmost to foster peaceful dialogue on reforms”. On 19th March 2011, the Norwegian government authorized the Royal Norwegian Air Force for deployment in Libya. Norway approved six F-16 fighters and personnel. The deployment started on 21 March and operated from the Souda Air Base in Souda Bay on Crete.
On 24th March 2011, F-16s from the Royal Norwegian Air Force were assigned to the United States Africa Command during Operation Odyssey Dawn. On 25th March 2011, laser-guided bombs were launched from F-16s of the Royal Norwegian Air Force against Libyan tanks and during the night towards 26 March an airfield was bombed. Forces were also deployed to Operation Unified Protector on 26th March 2011.
By July 2011, the Norwegian F-16’s had dropped close to 600 bombs, some 17% of the total bombs dropped at that time. It was Norwegian F-16s that on the night towards 26 April, bombed Gaddafis headquarter in Tripoli.
From September to December 2011, the Air Force contributed personnel and one P-3 Orion to Operation Ocean Shield. Operating from the Seychelles, the aircraft searched for pirates in the Somali Basin.
In April 2016 the life of a patient, at the hospital in Bodø, was saved when specialized medical equipment was ferried halfway across Norway, in less than half an hour, by an Air Force F-16 jet from Værnes Air Station.
On 29th March 2017, Norway signed a contract for five P-8As, to be delivered between 2022 and 2023.
On 3rd November 2017, RNoAF took delivery of the first F-35A Lightning II.
2020s
In March 2021, RNoAF participated in Icelandic Air Policing with four F-35A Lightning II and 130 military personnel.
Norway’s F-35 Lightning II
Plans
The RNoAF will conduct several investments in the coming years. First the European helicopter NH-90 will be introduced to replace the Lynx helicopters as a ship-borne helicopter, the Air Force also have bought an additional 16 search and rescue AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters to replace its aging Sea King helicopters. The aging F-16AM fighter will be replaced from 2016. On 20th November 2008, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg announced that the F-35A was the only fighter fulfilling all the Norwegian requirements and thus the preferred choice. Stoltenberg stated that cooperation with the Nordic countries on defence and security would continue independently of the F-35 purchase.
According to the 2012 White paper, a number of changes were proposed:
- A National Air Operations Centre will be established at Reitan, outside Bodø.
- The Control and Reporting Centre at Mågerø will be closed.
- Ørland will become the main operating base for the F-35 as well as NASAMS and the deployable base defence units.
- Evenes will house a Quick Reaction Alert detachment when the F-35 replaces the F-16.
- As F-16 operations wind down in the early 2020s, Bodø will close as an Air Station.
- The Royal Norwegian Air Force participates in the EATC led acquisition by The Royal Netherlands Air Force with one Airbus 330 MRTT Tanker & Transport Aircraft based at Eindhoven Airbase as part of the NATO 8 x A330 MRTT Fleet.
- Helicopter operations will be consolidated at Bardufoss with detachments:
- Bell 412 in South East Norway.
-NH90 NFH at Haakonsvern.
-SAR detachments of 330 Squadron at current locations.
-The two DA-20 aircraft will move from Rygge to Gardermoen. 720 Squadron will be merged with 339 Squadron at Bardufoss, and Rygge will close as an Air Station.
On 7th June 2012, the United States’ Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Norway for two C-130J-30 United States Air Force (USAF) baseline aircraft and associated parts, equipment, logistical support and training for an estimated cost of $300 million.
In 2016, research was started to consider the Boeing P-8A Poseidon MMA to replace the aging six P-3C Orion and two Falcon 20 aircraft by 2020 – 2025. In November 2016 the intention to acquire five was confirmed. On 5 March 2018, United States Department of Defense announced the award of a contract to Boeing that includes five P-8A Poseidons for RNoAF.
A Norwegian Dassault Falcon 20
Aircraft
Current inventory
Combat Aircraft
F-16 Fighting Falcon F-16A 44
F-35 Lightning II F-35A 24
Electronic Warfare
Falcon 20 -200 2
Maritime Patrol
P-3 Orion ASW / patrol P-3C/N 6
Boeing P-8 ASW / patrol 1 4
Transport
Lockheed C-130J tactical airlift 4
Helicopters
Bell 412 utility 18
NHIndustries NH90 ASW 11 3
Westland Sea King United Kingdom SAR / utility Mk. 43 12
AgustaWestland AW101 SAR / utility 9
Trainer Aircraft
Saab MFI-15 Safari basic trainer 16
F-35 Lightning II F-35A 10
F-16 Fighting Falcon F-16B 9
Note: Norway is part of several multi national services and has availability of using the services including three C-17 Globemaster III’s that are available through the Heavy Airlift Wing based in Hungary. Also four Airbus A330 MRTT is available through the Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet.
Retired
Previous aircraft flown by the Air Force included the North American F-86K, Republic F-84, F-104 Starfighter, Northrop F-5, Lockheed T-33, Fairchild PT-26, Catalina PB5Y-A, Douglas C-47, DHC-3 Otter, Noorduyn Norseman, Cessna O-1, Bell UH-1B, and the Bell 47G helicopter.
Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter 104801, 334 Squadron, Norwegian Air Force, 1982
Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter 104801, 334 Squadron, Norwegian Air Force, 1982
Check out the latest Hobbymaster Lockheed F-104 Starfighter available to order from Flying Tigers, only 400 pieces available worldwide limited edition ! Please click on the image below to go straight to the model page.
The F-104 Starfighter was a revolutionary design with short razor-sharp wings. It was the first aircraft to be able to maintain Mach 2 not just in short bursts. The Starfighter shattered speed and rate of climb records that still are impressive today. This extremely high speed earned the plane the nickname “The Missile With A Man In It”. Because of financial considerations 15 or more countries purchased the F-104. The Starfighter flew with the USAF in 1958 and the last airplane was decommissioned in Italy in 2004.
Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter 104801 was withdrawn from use July 13th, 1982 and donated to the Central Defence Museum, and is now on display at the RNoAF Museum (Forsvarsmuseet) at Gardermoen.
Panzerkampf 1/72nd scale New Model Announcements!
New Panzerkampf 1/72nd scale diecast Mirage and Rafale models have just been added to Flying Tigers range and are available to pre-order today. If you want any of these models it is always safer to pre-order as quantities are limited.
Don’t forget NO DEPOSIT necessary with Flying Tigers and if you order with your debit or credit card your payment is not taken until your model is available to dispatch.
Flying Tigers will also consolidate your orders to save on postage costs across all brands !
Please click on the images / links below to go to the model of your choice, or CLICK HERE to see them all in the Future Models section.
Corgi Aviation Archive New Model Arrivals… now in stock.
The following models have just arrived at Flying Tigers. Pre-ordered models will be dispatched ASAP.
Corgi Aviation Archive New Model Arrivals… likely before Christmas!
The following models are likely to arrive at Flying Tigers before Christmas. No promises as last year I got deliveries on the 23rd of December ! Here’s hoping I get them in good time.
Hobbymaster Updated Photo Gallery
Check out the all latest photos from Hobbymaster that have now been added to the Flying Tigers website. Please click on the images / links below to go to the model page.
Hobbymaster models now due w/c 4th January 2022.
These Hobbymaster models have been slightly delayed and are arriving at Flying Tigers w/c 4th January 2022. They are still available to pre-order at Flying Tigers today.
Pre-ordered models will start to be dispatched as soon as they arrive with me.
Don’t forget NO DEPOSIT necessary with Flying Tigers and if you order with your debit or credit card your payment is not taken until your model is available to dispatch.
Flying Tigers will also consolidate your orders to save on postage costs across all brands !
Please click on the images / links below to go to the model of your choice, or CLICK HERE to see them all.
Thank you for reading this week’s Newsletter.
Richard.
Flying Tigers.
