Kristian Østby (aviator)

With Captain Birger Motzfeldt of the Norwegian Army Air Service, Østby was instrumental in the purchase of aircraft from the United States just prior to the German invasion of Norway in 1940.

Norway had recognised that the equipment of its armed forces was obsolete, and sent a purchasing commission to the United States in February 1940, including a Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service contingent headed by Cmdr.

[3] Amongst the requirements the commission hoped to fill was to replace the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service's M.F.11 biplane patrol aircraft.

[5] Østby remained at Northrop as the head of the Norwegian acceptance team of 12 technical staff and flight crews who worked closely with design and production personnel at the plant.

Arrangements were made to transfer Norwegian pilots to a North American headquarters while various locations were considered, a base around the Toronto Island Airport in Canada was chosen.

Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service Northrop N-3PB carrying out a test flight over Lake Elsinore, California, c. 1940–1941. Cmdr. Østby carried out some of the flight testing and accepted the aircraft off the production line.