During the Second World War, he served as a fighter pilot with the Royal Norwegian Air Force from 1942 to 1946, after training at a flying school in Canada.

He flew Spitfires on offensive sweeps in Northwestern Europe and was credited with destroying one German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 and sharing in the downing of a Messerschmitt 410.

On that date, he was appointed Minister of Trade and Shipping, which he held until the Borten cabinet fell in 1971.

[1] He held numerous board memberships in Norwegian corporations, notably serving as chairman of the board of Saga Petroleum (1972-1976), Atlas Copco Norway (1978-1997), Vesta Hygea (1984-1986), Fina Norway (1981-1996) and Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani (1982-1987).

[1] He was a member of the Steering Committee of the Bilderberg Group[3] and participated in all their yearly conferences between 1967 and 1980 as well as in 1982 and 1984.