18 Facts About Odd Bull

Lieutenant General Odd Bull was a career officer in the Royal Norwegian Air Force who rose to the position of Chief of Air Staff.

Odd Bull is probably best known outside Norway for his role as Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization between 1963 and 1970, a period which coincided with the Six-Day War between Israel and its Arab neighbours.

Odd is a common Norwegian given name, and Bull is an Anglo-Saxon surname.

Odd Bull enjoyed the experience so much that he eventually decided to take the two-year officer training course, graduating in 1928 as a first lieutenant in the 4th Infantry Division.

Many Norwegian servicemen, including Odd Bull, escaped by boat to the United Kingdom where they hoped to carry on the struggle.

Once in Britain, Odd Bull attempted to organize some Norwegian air squadrons, but no airfields were available.

In 1941, Odd Bull returned to Britain to fly with No 242 Squadron RAF, but he along with a number of other Norwegian pilots were keen to form a Norwegian squadron, which they achieved in July of the same year.

The Norwegian unit was assigned to provide fighter cover for Scapa Flow, but Odd Bull was then recalled to the Toronto training camp in Canada to become Camp Commandant.

Odd Bull was eventually reassigned to combat duty, flying Mosquitoes with No 107 Squadron RAF during the D-Day landings in Northern France.

Odd Bull later served as Chief of Staff to the Commander of the Air Force.

Odd Bull was decorated with the Grand Cross of the Order of St Olav in 1970.

In 1958 Odd Bull was offered a temporary position with the United Nations Observation Group in Lebanon in Lebanon, which he accepted.

Odd Bull's appointment coincided with the Lebanon Crisis.

Odd Bull returned to Norway in 1959, but in 1963 he was offered the position as Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, which he again accepted.

Odd Bull's appointment came at a time of rising tensions, particularly between Israel and Syria, which both laid claim to territories inside the demilitarized zones.

Odd Bull gave an explanation for his writing of the book:.

General Odd Bull has earned our respect for his integrity, honesty and objectivity.

Odd Bull consistently stayed out of the limelight, refusing press and television interviews.