Ingeborg Björnen’s story as told by herself.
As the Canadian airplane made the forced landing at Haugland on the 26/9-1944, the airmen were guided southwards to Björnen by Magnus Askvik who was one of the first who talked to them.
First, they arrived at the farmhouses at Björnavik. Nobody there understood them and pointed at Björnehaugen where I then lived. The airmen came however, first in contact with the people at the farm called Björnen and Miss Martha Brueröy (now Mrs. Haugland), followed them out to me. I speak a little English and I explained to them their whereabouts and that the danger of being arrested was great. Marta Brueroy led them up into the wood and hid them in a slope of large boulders.
I, myself, went first to Lunde as I hoped to gain contact with Harald Lunde, but he was not at home. I went back home and conferred with my father Hans Björnen. We agreed to contact Einar Evensen. Then I went over to our neighbor, Johannes Ferstadvoll, and he was willing to assist. My father and J. Ferstadvoll went to E. Evensen and arranged to bring the airmen to Björnetrynet at nightfall. Johannes Ferstadvoll and I guided them to Evensen and his men and left them in their care. Since then all was quiet at Björnen until November 17th 1944 when the Germans made a raid at Os and my sister, Hanna, was arrested as a result of this, and was imprisoned until the end of the war.
Ingeborg Björnen (signed) .·
Editor's Note: The "slope of large boulders" describes the area around the "cave" very accurately. See photos of the slope, taken during the 75th Anniversary celebrations, here.
As the Canadian airplane made the forced landing at Haugland on the 26/9-1944, the airmen were guided southwards to Björnen by Magnus Askvik who was one of the first who talked to them.
First, they arrived at the farmhouses at Björnavik. Nobody there understood them and pointed at Björnehaugen where I then lived. The airmen came however, first in contact with the people at the farm called Björnen and Miss Martha Brueröy (now Mrs. Haugland), followed them out to me. I speak a little English and I explained to them their whereabouts and that the danger of being arrested was great. Marta Brueroy led them up into the wood and hid them in a slope of large boulders.
I, myself, went first to Lunde as I hoped to gain contact with Harald Lunde, but he was not at home. I went back home and conferred with my father Hans Björnen. We agreed to contact Einar Evensen. Then I went over to our neighbor, Johannes Ferstadvoll, and he was willing to assist. My father and J. Ferstadvoll went to E. Evensen and arranged to bring the airmen to Björnetrynet at nightfall. Johannes Ferstadvoll and I guided them to Evensen and his men and left them in their care. Since then all was quiet at Björnen until November 17th 1944 when the Germans made a raid at Os and my sister, Hanna, was arrested as a result of this, and was imprisoned until the end of the war.
Ingeborg Björnen (signed) .·
Editor's Note: The "slope of large boulders" describes the area around the "cave" very accurately. See photos of the slope, taken during the 75th Anniversary celebrations, here.