In October 1939, Helvard—then a Danish navy pilot—was decorated for the rescue of four members of the Kriegsmarine. In 1942, he escaped Denmark to volunteer for the Royal Air Force. He was killed in June 1943, when his Stirling was shot down by a German night fighter on a mission for Krefeld.
Karen Hansen was one of the Danish women who served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during the Second World War. She was a domestic servant in Twickenham at the outbreak of war and experienced the Blitz before volunteering in 1942.
During the Second World War, a large number of Danish pilots were in British or Norwegian air service. Though many were accepted in one of the Norwegian squadron, 234 (Madras Presidency) Squadron is by far the most 'Danish' of all squadrons of (or associated to) the Royal Air Force. In all nine Danish pilots and three Spitfires is in 234 service.
From early on the Danish volunteers in the RAF wanted to distinguish themselves as Danes in Allied service. One way of doing that was to wear a nationality shoulder title on the uniform.
