Suddenly, I can sense a change in the weather. Do we dare to think that spring will be arriving soon? I hope so. I thought it was a pretty cold winter here in Minnesota.
I think that we have had a variety of interesting programs during our zoom meetings. I know that Hope has more good programs coming up. Thank you for your hard work, Hope.
I hope that we will be able to consider in-person meetings sometime this year. It would be great to see and talk to our lodge members. In the meantime, please attend our zoom meetings and let us know if you have suggestions or need help with zoom.
If you have questions or comments, please use our lodge email: vonheim.lodge.108@gmail.com
Take care and stay safe.
Tusen Takk,
Pam Rose, President
War Hero Norman Edward Midthun Has Died
American Norman Edward Midthun was the pilot for Crown Prince Olav after the war. He was 96 years old.
August marked the end of an eventful life. Midthun was laid to rest on August 14. Midthun spent large parts of his career in aviation, but it was perhaps the war years that left the deepest mark on the American whose grandparents were born in Norway.
When he was 17, Midthun wanted to enlist in the US Navy Air Force, but was rejected because of his age.
Instead, the choice fell on the Norwegian Air Force (then the Navy and Army Air Force, -Ed.) Which had established itself outside Toronto in "Little Norway."
Despite few expecting him to do so, partly because he barely spoke Norwegian, Midthun became the first American to receive "Norwegian wings" during World War II, according to an obituary published in Star Tribune.
Then he flew, among other things, reconnaissance missions and he transported saboteurs to the coast of Norway during the occupation. When the war was over, he was selected to be the then-Crown Prince Olav's pilot during a post-war mission, among other things to assess the damage inflicted on Norway during the war.
Krigshelten Norman Edward Midthun er død
Amerikaneren Norman Edward Midthun var piloten til kronprins Olav etter krigen. Han ble 96 år.
I august markeres slutten på et begivenhetsrikt liv. 14. august stedes nemlig Midthun til hvile. Midthun tilbrakte store deler av sin karriere innenfor luftfarten, men det er kanskje krigsårene som satte dypest spor hos amerikaneren der begge besteforeldrene ble født i Norge.
Da han var 17 år ønsket Midthun å verve seg til den amerikanske marines luftvåpen, men han ble avvist på grunn av alderen.
I stedet falt valget på Det norske luftforsvaret (daværende Marinens og Hærens flyvåpen, journ.anm.) som hadde etablert seg utenfor Toronto i «Little Norway».
Til tross for at få forventet at han skulle klare det, blant annet på grunn av at han knapt snakket norsk, ble Midthun den første amerikaneren til å tilegne seg «norske vinger» under 2. verdenskrig, ifølge en nekrolog publisert i Star Tribune.
Da fløy han blant annet rekognoseringsoppdrag samt at han fraktet sabotører til kysten av Norge under okkupasjonen. Da krigen var over ble han utvalgt til å være daværende kronprins Olavs pilot under et etterkrigsoppdrag, blant annet for å vurdere skadene som var påført Norge i løpet av krigen.
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