The establishment of the Forward Operating Location (FOL) Oerland of the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force began in the spring of 1982. The first construction meeting was held on 15 June 1982 and the completion date was 23 December 1983. Between 10 January and 11 February 1983, the first group of FOL technicians was sent to MOB Geilenkirchen for initial training. The official opening ceremony was held on 2 November 1983. One day later, Maj. Gudmund Taraldsen, RNOAF, piloting NATO aircraft LX-N 79446, executed the first E-3A landing at FOL Oerland.

The first exercise FOL Oerland participated in was Exercise Team Work in 1984. During that same year, the FOL’s VHF/UHF communication system became operational, finally enabling FOL Oerland OPS to communicate with aircraft. Since that day, many NATO pilots have had the pleasure of talking to "King Salmon”, FOL Oerland’s call sign.

On 26 September 1984 a Memorandum of Understanding between NATO and Norway was signed, and a Memorandum of Agreement was signed a few years later in October 1991.

 

FOL Oerland has participated in and successfully supported a large number of NATO operations in the international arena, including Operation Active Endeavour, the Balkan conflict operations, Operation Eagle Assist and Operation Unified Protector, as well as major exercises such as Red Flag, West Coast JFFEX, Dynamic Mix and Northern Viking.

The FOL has also played an important role in the planning, execution and support of several large-scale exercises on Norwegian soil, including NATO Air Meet, Strong Resolve, NATO Tiger Meet, Cold Response and Fighter Weapon Instructor Training (FWIT).

 

With its determined highly skilled and motivated personnel and the successful conduct of a vast number of sorties since its establishment FOL Oerland has proved to be a reliable and capable asset for the NATO E-3A Component.