Arne Austeen Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom), DFC (1 July 1911 – 4 May 1945) was a Norwegian List of World War II aces from Norway, flying ace who was killed during World War II.
He was born in Stokke in Vestfold, Norway to parents from Brunlanes and Ås, Akershus, Ås. He took a degree in machine engineering at the Norwegian Institute of Technology, and pilot training in the Norwegian Army Air Service. He settled in Gjøvik where he worked for Øveraasen Motorfabrikk og Mekaniske Verksted.
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany he fled the country during the winter of 1941. Austeen joined the Royal Norwegian Air Force training camp at Little Norway in southern Ontario. In the summer of 1942, Austeen was transferred to the United Kingdom to join the Allied aerial forces. On 14 October 1942, Austeen was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom), Distinguished Flying Cross. Promoted to Major, he took over leadership of the No. 331 Squadron RAF from 1 October 1943 to 15 March 1944. In the summer of 1944, Austeen was ordered to Yorkshire as chief engineer. In February 1945, Austeen returned to active service and took command of the British 126 squadron stationed at RAF Bentwaters. He was killed in action in the vicinity of Flensburg Firth during May 1945, shortly before the war's end. No trace was found of Arne Austeen or of his North American P-51 Mustang, P-51 Mustang.
[ The road ''Austeens veg'' in Gjøvik has been named after him.
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References
Related reading
*Jefford, C.G (1988) ''RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912'' (Airlife Publishing)
*Shores, Christopher F. & Clive Williams (1966) ''Aces High: The Fighter Aces of the British and Commonwealth Air Forces in World War II'' (Shores & Williams)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Austeen, Arne
1911 births
1945 deaths
Norwegian Institute of Technology alumni
People from Gjøvik
Norwegian Army Air Service personnel of World War II
Norwegian World War II flying aces
Norwegian expatriates in the United Kingdom
Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in Germany
Aviators killed by being shot down
Recipients of the St. Olav's Medal with Oak Branch
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
Royal Norwegian Air Force personnel of World War II
Norwegian military personnel killed in World War II