Jespersen participated in the fighting during the German invasion of Norway in 1940 . He then embarked on a long journey via Finland , Russia , Japan , crossing the Pacific Ocean and finally reaching North America . He received his pilot training at the Little Norway training camp in Toronto , Ontario , Canada . Fellow orienteer Per Bergsland from IL Heming was also trained as a pilot in Toronto . Jespersen served as an instructor at the training school , and later as a pilot flying transport planes . After having been trained on combat aircraft , he joined RAF Bomber Command . Lieutenant Jespersen 's Lancaster of 97 Squadron was shot down over Cherbourg the night between 5 and 6 June 1944 . He was awarded the Haakon VII 70th Anniversary Medal posthumously . His diaries from 1940 , edited by and with comments by John Berg , were published in 1983 as '' 9 . april kommer jeg aldri til å glemme .... ''
Haakon VII 70th Anniversary Medal
Haakon VII 70th Anniversary Medal
Finn Varde Jespersen