Bjarne Øen

Bjarne Øen (6 November 1898 – 20 September 1994) was a Norwegian pilot, military officer and Lieutenant General of the Royal Norwegian Air Force. During World War II he played a central role in building up the Royal Norwegian Air Force in Canada and the United Kingdom. He served as Chief of Defence of Norway from 1957 to 1963.

Biography Adolf Bjarne Øen was born in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway. He was the son of Ole O. Øen (1860–1927) and Marie Eline Stuve (1873–1964). From 1923 to 1924, he was a student at Hæren Flight School, where he continued as an instructor until 1925. At the time of the start of World War II, Captain Øen was the airport manager of the newly opened Fornebu Airport outside Oslo.

Honors In 1929, Øen received the King's Medal of Merit (Kongens fortjenstmedalje) in gold. In 1947 he was awarded the title of Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, for his war contributions. Among foreign awards, he also received the American Legion of Merit, the French Légion d'honneur and was made an Honorary Commanders of the Order of the British Empire. He died during 1994 and was buried at Vestre gravlund in Oslo.