Widerøe's Flyveselskap launched on 19 January 1934 with an initial capital of 25,000 kr, positioning its founder to complete the first scheduled domestic flight in Norway. This enterprise evolved from early ambitions in aviation formed in 1910 into a cornerstone of the national transport infrastructure that remains operational to this day.
Early Career and Commercial Aviation
Born in 1904 in Christiania, Widerøe pursued aviation training through the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service starting in 1924. He obtained his civilian pilot license on 13 June 1930. By 1933, he partnered with Halvor Bjørneby to manage aerial demonstrations, photography, and charter services. After establishing his primary company in 1934, he personally imported a Waco cabin biplane from the United States. While early postal routes connected Oslo to Stavanger via Kristiansand and Haugesund, the concession dynamics shifted in 1936 when Det Norske Luftfartselskap assumed control of scheduled routes, forcing his business to pivot back toward charter and photography.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Antarctic Expeditions and Wartime Service
In the 1936–1937 winter season, Widerøe participated in an Antarctic expedition led by Lars Christensen, utilizing aerial photography to map approximately 80,000 square kilometres of the continent's coastline. Following the 1940 German invasion of Norway, he joined the resistance organization Milorg. His activities facilitating the escape of potential war pilots led to his arrest in May 1941. After receiving a death sentence that was later commuted, he endured confinement in several camps, including Møllergata 19, Grini concentration camp, and multiple facilities in Germany until his liberation in March 1945. Post-liberation, he served briefly as an interpreter and secretary for General George Patton.
Post-War Professional Transition
Following 1945, Widerøe held a position at the Norwegian Aviation Authority before transitioning to a role at DNL and subsequently joining the initial team at Scandinavian Airlines System to recruit personnel. In 1947, he assumed the role of managing director at his own firm, a position he retained until 1969. Simultaneously, he maintained active flight status until 1954 and directed a military aviation school at Hønefoss Airport, Eggemoen between 1950 and 1952. His service also included reconnaissance flights in Finnmark for the Norwegian Intelligence Service.
Legacy and Final Years
Despite founding a major airline, Widerøe did not accumulate significant personal wealth; he remained in debt throughout much of the 1980s and held minimal shares in his later years. In 1954, he was recognized as a Knight First Class of the Order of St. Olav. Mount Widerøe in Antarctica serves as a permanent namesake for his contributions to aviation. He spent his final winters in L'Alfàs del Pi, Spain, before passing away in Oslo in 2002.
Fast facts
- Born: 1904, Christiania
- Died: 2002, Oslo
- Aviation career start: 1924
- Company founded: 1934
- Military service: Milorg resistance fighter
- Award: Knight First Class of the Order of St. Olav (1954)
- Camp prisoner number: 352
Questions readers ask
Was Widerøe an active pilot?
Yes, he earned his civilian pilot's license in 1930 and continued flying for his company until 1954.
Did his airline remain under his control?
After 1947, Forenede Industrier held the stake in the company, though he remained the managing director until 1969.
Achievements
- Knight First Class of the Order of St. Olav
