Helge Sommerfelt Skappel (5 September 1907 – 17 October 2001) was a Norwegian aviator, photographer and cartographer. He was among the early aviation company owners in Norway, and later became known as a photographer in Widerøe from 1934 to 1975, except for four years during World War II when he was imprisoned in concentration camps for resistance work. He pioneered the use of aerophotogrammetry in Norway.
He was born in Ringsaker as a son of banker Halvdan Skappel and Dagny Sommerfelt Skappel.[1] He took a pilot's education from 1929 to 1930 under the Norwegian Army at Kjeller.[2] Skappel soon became involved in the pioneer days of aviation in Norway. He owned the company Lotsberg & Skappel, along with Leiv Brun, Ditlef Smith and Erik Engnæs. The company operated a Gipsy Moth airplane.[3] It was used for private flights, taxi flights and air shows, the latter in cooperation with the company Widerøe & Bjørneby as well as Norsk Aero Klubb.[4] Widerøe & Bjørneby became Widerøe's Flyveselskap in February 1934, after Viggo Widerøe had bought and flown a Waco Cabin from the United States. In the Easter of 1934, a meeting was held at Ustaoset in which Skappel was recruited to Widerøe's Flyveselskap—his company would become incorporated into Widerøe's, and the co-owners be involved as well. Skappel was to lead the aerial school as well as a department for aerial photography. Incidentally, the Standard Moth plane owned by Skappel crashed shortly after, leading him to believe that he had lost his "entrance ticket" to Widerøe's, but he still became director of photography in the company.[5] From 1935 he pioneered the use of aerophotogrammetry.[2] Among others, the company had a contract with the Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority (then known as Norges Geografiske Oppmåling).[6]
World War IIedit
During World War II, Norway was invaded by Germany on 9 April 1940. Helge Skappel's brother died in the Battle of Stryken already on 12 April. Skappel joined the resistance movement, helping Norwegians to flee the country. He also transmitted information about German troop movements via illegal radio.[1] He was arrested for conducting "intelligence" in June 1941, and was imprisoned at Møllergata 19 for a month.[7] He was sentenced to six years of prison.[1] He was transferred to Grini concentration camp in July 1941, as #353 of almost 20,000 prisoners. Viggo Widerøe was imprisoned as well, and they spent prison time in Åkebergveien from October to November 1941, before being shipped to Germany via Akershus Fortress.[7] He was imprisoned at Hamburg-Fühlsbuttel, and remained so until being saved by the White Buses at the war's end.[1]
His brother Vilhelm Skappel (1911–1992) was also a part of the resistance movement, but he fled to England in 1943. Like Helge, he worked with aerial photography, having started as early as 1930.[8] After the war, Vilhelm Skappel chaired Commission VII of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing for ten years.[9]
Post-war lifeedit
Skappel continued in Widerøe after the war. In 1946, he released the book Pionertid, "Pioneer Time", together with Viggo Widerøe, chronicling their time as pioneers of aviation in Norway.[2] In 1951-1952 he was a member of an aerial expedition to Antarctica, as a part of the larger Norwegian-British-Swedish Antarctic Expedition. The small mountain Skappelnabben was discovered and named after him.[1][10][11] In 1953 he made an advance to launch a program for economic mapping. This was his second advance; a proposal in 1937 led to some work being done by a committee, but it was hampered by World War II. Skappel's second advance led to a committee being formed in 1957, and economic mapping was eventually started by Norges Geografiske Oppmåling, however as late as in 1964. Skappel retired from the professional life in 1975.[2]
Skappel was decorated with the Defence Medal 1940–1945 and the HM The King's Medal of Merit, and was an honorary member of the national cartographic society. He lived in Nøtterøy in his later life, and died in October 2001, aged 94.[1][12]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefBreivik, Jorunn (29 October 2001). "Helge Sommerfelt Skappel (obituary)". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 9.
^ abcd"Helge Skappel, en visjonær flypionér". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 4 September 1997. p. 18.
^Arnesen, Odd (1984). På grønne vinger over Norge (in Norwegian). Widerøe's Flyveselskap. p. 7.
^"Helge Sommerfelt Skappel". geni_family_tree. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
December 10, 2023
helge, skappel, helge, sommerfelt, skappel, september, 1907, october, 2001, norwegian, aviator, photographer, cartographer, among, early, aviation, company, owners, norway, later, became, known, photographer, widerøe, from, 1934, 1975, except, four, years, dur. Helge Sommerfelt Skappel 5 September 1907 17 October 2001 was a Norwegian aviator photographer and cartographer He was among the early aviation company owners in Norway and later became known as a photographer in Wideroe from 1934 to 1975 except for four years during World War II when he was imprisoned in concentration camps for resistance work He pioneered the use of aerophotogrammetry in Norway Helge Sommerfelt SkappelBorn 1907 09 05 5 September 1907Ringsaker NorwayDied17 October 2001 2001 10 17 aged 94 Notteroy Vestfold NorwaySpouseGjertrud Lillian NielsenMilitary careerAllegiance NorwayServiceNorwegian ResistanceMember1940 1945AwardsDefence Medal 1940 1945 King s Medal of Merit Contents 1 Pre war life 2 World War II 3 Post war life 4 ReferencesPre war life editHe was born in Ringsaker as a son of banker Halvdan Skappel and Dagny Sommerfelt Skappel 1 He took a pilot s education from 1929 to 1930 under the Norwegian Army at Kjeller 2 Skappel soon became involved in the pioneer days of aviation in Norway He owned the company Lotsberg amp Skappel along with Leiv Brun Ditlef Smith and Erik Engnaes The company operated a Gipsy Moth airplane 3 It was used for private flights taxi flights and air shows the latter in cooperation with the company Wideroe amp Bjorneby as well as Norsk Aero Klubb 4 Wideroe amp Bjorneby became Wideroe s Flyveselskap in February 1934 after Viggo Wideroe had bought and flown a Waco Cabin from the United States In the Easter of 1934 a meeting was held at Ustaoset in which Skappel was recruited to Wideroe s Flyveselskap his company would become incorporated into Wideroe s and the co owners be involved as well Skappel was to lead the aerial school as well as a department for aerial photography Incidentally the Standard Moth plane owned by Skappel crashed shortly after leading him to believe that he had lost his entrance ticket to Wideroe s but he still became director of photography in the company 5 From 1935 he pioneered the use of aerophotogrammetry 2 Among others the company had a contract with the Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority then known as Norges Geografiske Oppmaling 6 World War II editDuring World War II Norway was invaded by Germany on 9 April 1940 Helge Skappel s brother died in the Battle of Stryken already on 12 April Skappel joined the resistance movement helping Norwegians to flee the country He also transmitted information about German troop movements via illegal radio 1 He was arrested for conducting intelligence in June 1941 and was imprisoned at Mollergata 19 for a month 7 He was sentenced to six years of prison 1 He was transferred to Grini concentration camp in July 1941 as 353 of almost 20 000 prisoners Viggo Wideroe was imprisoned as well and they spent prison time in Akebergveien from October to November 1941 before being shipped to Germany via Akershus Fortress 7 He was imprisoned at Hamburg Fuhlsbuttel and remained so until being saved by the White Buses at the war s end 1 His brother Vilhelm Skappel 1911 1992 was also a part of the resistance movement but he fled to England in 1943 Like Helge he worked with aerial photography having started as early as 1930 8 After the war Vilhelm Skappel chaired Commission VII of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing for ten years 9 Post war life editSkappel continued in Wideroe after the war In 1946 he released the book Pionertid Pioneer Time together with Viggo Wideroe chronicling their time as pioneers of aviation in Norway 2 In 1951 1952 he was a member of an aerial expedition to Antarctica as a part of the larger Norwegian British Swedish Antarctic Expedition The small mountain Skappelnabben was discovered and named after him 1 10 11 In 1953 he made an advance to launch a program for economic mapping This was his second advance a proposal in 1937 led to some work being done by a committee but it was hampered by World War II Skappel s second advance led to a committee being formed in 1957 and economic mapping was eventually started by Norges Geografiske Oppmaling however as late as in 1964 Skappel retired from the professional life in 1975 2 Skappel was decorated with the Defence Medal 1940 1945 and the HM The King s Medal of Merit and was an honorary member of the national cartographic society He lived in Notteroy in his later life and died in October 2001 aged 94 1 12 References edit a b c d e f Breivik Jorunn 29 October 2001 Helge Sommerfelt Skappel obituary Aftenposten in Norwegian p 9 a b c d Helge Skappel en visjonaer flypioner Aftenposten in Norwegian 4 September 1997 p 18 Arnesen Odd 1984 Pa gronne vinger over Norge in Norwegian Wideroe s Flyveselskap p 7 Arnesen 1984 pp 8 9 Arnesen 1984 pp 10 11 Arnesen 1984 p 55 a b Giertsen Borre R ed 1946 Norsk fangeleksikon Grinifangene in Norwegian Oslo Cappelen p 14 a href Template Cite encyclopedia html title Template Cite encyclopedia cite encyclopedia a Missing or empty title help Arnesen 1984 p 61 Kruger C C 28 September 1992 Vilhelm Skappel obituary Aftenposten in Norwegian p 9 Oppgavene lost i Antarktis Verdens Gang in Norwegian 10 January 1952 p 10 Skappelnabben Spur Australian Antarctic Data Centre Retrieved 15 November 2009 Helge Sommerfelt Skappel geni family tree Retrieved 7 February 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Helge Skappel amp oldid 1137961232, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
