Tryggve Gran

Jens Tryggve Herman Gran (January 20, 1889 - January 8, 1980) was a Norwegian aviator, explorer and author.

Biography

Tryggve Gran was born in Bergen, Norway, growing up in an affluent family dominant in the shipbuilding industry. His father died when Tryggve was only five years old.In 1900, Gran was sent to a school in Switzerland for a year, where he learned some German and French. Three years later, he met the German emperor, William II, a common guest with the families of Tryggve's friends. Meeting the emperor made an impact on the then 14-year old boy, who from that moment on wanted to become a naval officer. At this time, he had several years behind him as a member of the Nygaards Bataillon, one of Bergen's buekorps. He entered naval college in 1907 and graduated in the spring of 1910. Gran took an interest in science and exploration which in 1910 led to Fridtjof Nansen recommending his services to Robert Falcon Scott, who was in Norway at the time preparing for an expedition to the Antarctic and testing the motor tractor he intended to take with him. Scott was impressed with Gran, who was an expert skier, and convinced him to take part in the Terra Nova Expedition as ski instructor to Scott’s men. Gran was later part of the search party that found the tent containing the bodies of the Polar party, being the first to sight and enter the tent. After collecting the party’s personal belongings the tent was lowered over the bodies of Scott and his men and a large snow cairn was built over it. Gran's skis were used to form a cross over their grave. He travelled back to the base at Cape Evans wearing Scott's skis, reasoning that at least Scott's skis would complete the journey. Gran was awarded the Polar medal by King George V.

On his return voyage, Tryggve Gran met the Irish aviator Robert Lorrain, and immediately took an interest in aviation. Gran became a skilled pilot at Louis Blériot's aviation school in Paris, and on July 30, 1914, Gran became the first pilot to cross the North Sea. He took off in his Blériot XI-2 monoplane, "Ca Flotte", from Cruden Bay, Scotland, and landed 4 hours 10 minutes later at Jæren, Norway.

Only five days later, Great Britain entered the World War I. Gran, now a first lieutenant in the Norwegian Flying Corps, volunteered for service with the Royal Air Force. He was rejected, because of Norway's neutrality. However, the rejection didn't stop Gran. Under the identity of "Captain Teddy Grant" of Canada, he was admitted to the RAF, serving in London, the Western Front and Arkhangelsk. Gran himself claimed to have shot down German ace Herman Goering in a dogfight on the 8th or 9th of September 1917. He discovered this when he became acquainted with Goering after the war, and compared his flight logs with Goering's. It could however not be verified that it was Gran who shot down Goering's plane.During the war, the RAF promoted Gran to the rank of Major, and awarded him the Military Cross for distinguished war service.

After the war, Gran started holding lectures on aviation and his journeys to the polar areas, as well as writing books. In 1919 he was the first man to fly from London to Stockholm. In 1928, he led a search party to find Roald Amundsen.

During World War II, Gran was reportedly a member of NS, Vidkun Quisling's Nationalist Party. The NS used Gran's hero-like status in their war propaganda, and in 1944, a commemorative stamp was issued to mark the 30th anniversary of Gran's flight across the North Sea. It has been speculated Gran feared reprisals from the pro-German nationalist party because of his commitment to the Royal Air Force in World War I. Others have speculated that his friendship with Goering and bitterness over not being offered a full-time job in the Norwegian airforce may have been reasons for Gran to support the NS during the Nazi occupation of Norway.After a trial in 1948, Gran was found guilty of treason and sentenced to a prison term of 18 months.

Tryggve Gran died in his home in Grimstad, Norway, on January 8, 1980 aged 89.

On a side note, Gran was also a gifted football player, earning 1 cap for Norway in 1908. This was Norway's first ever international match, and was played against Sweden in Gothenburg. Sweden beat Norway and Tryggve Gran 11-3.

See also

*Aviation in Norway

Bibliography

* "Hvor sydlyset flammer" – (1915)
* "Under britisk flagg: krigen 1914-18" – (1919)
* "Triumviratet" – (1921)
* "En helt: Kaptein Scotts siste færd" – (1924)
* "Mellom himmel og jord" – (1927)
* "Heia - La Villa" – (1932)
* "Stormen på Mont Blanc" – (1933)
* "La Villa i kamp" – (1934)
* "Slik var det: Fra kryp til flyger" – (1945)
* "Slik var det: Gjennom livets passat" – (1952)
* "Kampen om Sydpolen" – (1961)
* "Første fly over Nordsjøen: Et femtiårsminne" – (1964)
* "Fra tjuagutt til sydpolfarer" – (1974)
* "Mitt liv mellom himmel og jord" – (1979)