Other Forces

Crashed Spitfire

The Norwegian Spitfire pilot Egil Hagen (1923-1987) after one of his 6 forced landings with a heavily damaged airplane. Egil Hagen suffered with broken back after his first crash landing in England in 1943, but was allowed by the RAF to continue flying. In 1943 he had a peculiar episode that meant much for him in his later years. Chasing an ME 109 low on fuel and preparing for the kill Egil suddenly decided to fly side by side with the German and smile and wave. The German pilot was at first amazed but then smiled and waved back. Egil later told that at that moment the two of them felt as the most happy people in the world. Like most wartime fighter pilots Egil Hagen suffered with PTSD in his later years.