The small village of Villons-les-Buissons in Normandie was liberated on June 7th 1944, one day after the allied landings. The allies built an airfield named B-16 close to the village and the first pilot to land there was Johannes Helland, from the Norwegian 332 Squadron RAF. 332 Sqd was also the first allied squadron to be deployed at an "Advanced Landing Ground" in France as part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force.
In 1941, 17 year old Johannes Helland was fed up with the German occupation and stole his way to England on a fishing vessel. In London he reported for duty to the Norwegian government in exile which sent him to "Little Norway" in Canada for training. In 1942 his training was complete and he joined 332 Squadron then tasked with defending London.
Helland, already an "old man" with 80 combat missions over France under his belt before D-Day would later be shot down by AAA over southern France in July 1944. Luckily he survived the ordeal, and the war, but as a German prisoner. He and 332 Sqd. was also on the first CAP sortie over the beaches on D-Day. Johannes Helland died five years ago in Bergen.
Earlier today in a ceremony Helland got a square named after him in Villons-les-Buissons together with three streets named after Norway, Oslo and Narvik. Our King was there with our prime minister and defense minister as part of the D-Day celebrations, and together with mayor Gerald Aniel declared the streets open.
Mayor Gerald Aniel (left) with King Harald V (right) and Johannes Helland's widow, Astrid (center).
Johannes Helland (left) with Finn Engelsen og Wilhelm Mohr revisit old memories in England. All flew Spits in the Norwegian squadrons during the war.
