Siri Skare

Siri Skare (6 June 1958 1 April 2011) was the first female aviator in the armed forces of Norway.[1] She died during a demonstration in Mazar-i-Sharif in 2011.

Early life

Skare was originally from Åndalsnes, Møre og Romsdal, Norway.[2] A resident of Oslo, Skare was married and had one child.[2]

Career

Already a civilian pilot and flight instructor with more than 1400 hours,[3] she completed her military pilot training in 1984, and went on to fly Lockheed P-3 Orion at 333 Squadron and later Lockheed C-130 Hercules at 335 Squadron.[1][3][4] She achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel within the Royal Norwegian Air Force.[5]

Skare became a military advisor to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, in August 2010.[2]

Death

Skare was killed at the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) compound during a protest in Mazar-i-Sharif on 1 April 2011, and two other UNAMA staff died along with their four armed security guards and a number of protesters.[1]

Her remains were transported to a ceremony that was held in a hangar at Gardermoen, with Crown Prince Haakon and Minister of Defence Grete Faremo in attendance. Her grave is at Grytten churchyard in Rauma.[6]

References

  1. Sandelson, Michael (7 April 2011). "Military mourns fallen officer". The Foreigner. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  2. Berglund, Nina (2 April 2011). "Female pilot killed in Afghanistan". Views and News from Norway. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  3. Aftenposten, 2 October 1984
  4. Luftforsvarets historie, volume 3, p.202 "First female pilot completes her flight training at Corpus Christi NAS, Texas 11 May 1984", Duvsete 2004
  5. "In Memoriam of fallen colleagues in Mazar-i-Sharif and in Kabul". UNAMA. 5 April 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  6. Berglund, Nina (7 April 2011). "Officer's body arrives back home". Views and News from Norway. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
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