Continuation by E. Evensen .
Contact
After having made several attempts to ascertain whether there were any survivors all was calm until 13:30 hours. No news about apprehension, death or escape. All negative, and I therefore went home to get some food.
As I entered the room two men sat and talked with my father, Johan Chr. Evensen. I instantly understood that I now was to achieve the contact and the information I had been hunting tor during the entire morning. The two men present were Hans Björnen and Johannes Ferstadvoll. They had already told my father that the airmen were in their care, six in number. They wanted my father to let the men have a motorboat which he possessed to enable them to sail back to England. My father was willing to let them have the boat but he was greatly in doubt whether that would succeed on account of the motor which was not in a proper condition. I could only confirm what my father had already told that they might certainly have the boat but that they would never reach back to England with such an engine even if I, myself, accompanied them. Apart from this there was sufficient oil and equipment available.
Hans Björnen got disappointed for, as he put it, the airmen had to get away from Björnen as soon as possible on account of a German raid which was soon expected. He wanted to do whatever he could to prevent their apprehension. I therefore offered him to give the airmen shelter and protection the best I could as things were. We agreed that the men should be fetched at Björnetrynet at a certain fixed time. Thereafter Mr. Björrnen and Mr. Ferstadvoll went back to Björnen to bring the men to the place where they were to be fetched.
Preparations
The men who were to be used in the rescue task were picked after thorough valuation. They had to be men who were able to stand both psychological and physical strain. The cover should also be as secure as possible. The Mil.Org group used a summer cottage for their instruction courses which was rather free-and-easy and at the same time it was located close to the fortress of Röttingen.
This house was selected with greatest care just for the aforesaid reason and the only awkwardness was that the transportation to such an explosive load had to pass strategic points to which German troops were detached. We were in lack of a good interpreter and although this could easily be arranged we could not be sure of the quality and the attitude which such a person might show in a situation like this. Mr. Nils Röttingen Senior was chosen and we knew him to be a fanatical opponent of the Germans. The others to take part were: Torvald Jakobsen, Hans Holmefjord and Magnus K. Röttingen. When the crew had been picked and after a brief bearing we agreed to use rowing boats. These were more practical than motorboats, silently drifting as they were, especially so since we wrapped pieces of cloth round the oars at the oar-locks.
The Rescue Action
That afternoon the watch did not seem to move. The excitement was immense. Everybody was eager to get on the move. The weather was especially favorable with a calm sea and a grey sky with drizzling rain, a weather perfectly fitted for a task like this. We all felt as if we were to attack the entire German force, and we were fully aware of the fact that the chasing after the airmen was in full operation. Everything was set. Each of our men knew exactly what his task was and we started at the time fixed.
At Ramsholman one or our boats was left whilst the other continued to Björnetrynat, about 500 meters away, where the men were to be fetched. The time during which the two men, Mr. Torvald Jakobsen and the interpreter Nils Röttingen, were away to fetch the airmen was felt like an end untold.
But everything worked out nicely and at the time stipulated they were back again with the most precious load that had ever been stowed in the boat. The exultation was tremendous. We all felt that half of the victory had already been achieved, since this first attempt bad been so perfect.
The Germans were on their guard and had placed 7 sentry-boats over an area of some 3 quarter-miles where the possibility of escape might occur should a crossing of the Björnefjord be attempted. This we had taken into account and we consequently refrained from taking that course at this stage.
Then we suddenly felt a dreadful fear for out of the mist appeared all of a sudden a German sentry-boat which fortunately was discovered by the discerning eye of one of our crew. What rescued us was solely the silent pull of our boat. If a boat geared by an engine had been used we would have all been mercilessly doomed.
Our two rowing boats sailed silently between islets and rocks until we reached the bridge extended between Brueröy and Röttingen. This was a place which we had to pass and the greatest care had to be exercised. One of our men was disembarked tor reconnaissance of the area. After a while in greatest excitement we received the signal and we were able to pass the very last of the points which were considered most dangerous.
Ten minutes later we reached our shelter and were under roof. I am convinced that our new friends felt greatly relieved at being lodged in the house and after having gotten some food their tension was considerably reduced.
Now we were able to get better acquainted and we told them of their whereabouts and that the possibility of returning to England was within reach and that cheered them up. They were also told that some days would elapse before the Germans would calm down and give up the door-to-door search which was in operation. Those days would be the worst as the search would likely be intensified and every corner would be rummaged for because, after all, we were hiding less than 6 km. from the landing spot. We had taken into account - which also proved correct - that since the hiding place was located opposite and close to the fortress at Röttingen the Germans would not think that we were audacious enough to place the airmen in such a locality. In order to avoid engaging more people than necessary who knew about our new friends we determined ·to use only the five men who were already taking part. This resulted in long days with a minimum of sleep tor each of the participants. We found it best that each of the members were independent of employers in order to allow him to dispose of his time as equitably as possible.
Before we left the airmen in comfortable beds we told them how to spend both days and nights and even though we were so few there would always be one or two of our men in the neighbourhood to support them. The days to come would be rather strenuous with few hours to sleep.
The Germans' search was now frenetical and they ravaged wildly with raids, interrogations and body of men with dogs.
We had to check which of the areas had been controlled, evaluate the possibilities for our hiding place and scan all rumours that were circulating.
The men picked to this task were beyond doubt the right ones because, when the job was finished no mistakes had been done. After three days things began to calm down. The Germans gave up the fight for the airmen .
Mr. Jacob Hjelle, who was the leader or the Mil.Org. group at Os, had been told that the men were safe in our custody at the Mil.Org. group at Lepsöy. This resulted in a vivid courier activity between Os and Lepsöy. Mr. Jacob Hjelle was in contact with England about the further transportation of the men, but in the meantime he decided to pass them along to Lönningdal, either by land or sea. Sea transportation was preferable but this could not be effected without serious difficulties. We therefore had to make further evaluations and planning.
The airmen were kept in the shelter from 27/9 to 29/9 and everything went according to plan. So far the Germans had scanned all areas, except our hiding place and our home at Björnaroy.
During the time the airmen stayed with us the problem of food supply was prevailing. Our rations, small as they were beforehand, could hardly be sufficient to nourish an additional number of six men. Our women did, however, a fine job and made wonders not only in tracing additional supplies but also in preparing the food.
Contact
After having made several attempts to ascertain whether there were any survivors all was calm until 13:30 hours. No news about apprehension, death or escape. All negative, and I therefore went home to get some food.
As I entered the room two men sat and talked with my father, Johan Chr. Evensen. I instantly understood that I now was to achieve the contact and the information I had been hunting tor during the entire morning. The two men present were Hans Björnen and Johannes Ferstadvoll. They had already told my father that the airmen were in their care, six in number. They wanted my father to let the men have a motorboat which he possessed to enable them to sail back to England. My father was willing to let them have the boat but he was greatly in doubt whether that would succeed on account of the motor which was not in a proper condition. I could only confirm what my father had already told that they might certainly have the boat but that they would never reach back to England with such an engine even if I, myself, accompanied them. Apart from this there was sufficient oil and equipment available.
Hans Björnen got disappointed for, as he put it, the airmen had to get away from Björnen as soon as possible on account of a German raid which was soon expected. He wanted to do whatever he could to prevent their apprehension. I therefore offered him to give the airmen shelter and protection the best I could as things were. We agreed that the men should be fetched at Björnetrynet at a certain fixed time. Thereafter Mr. Björrnen and Mr. Ferstadvoll went back to Björnen to bring the men to the place where they were to be fetched.
Preparations
The men who were to be used in the rescue task were picked after thorough valuation. They had to be men who were able to stand both psychological and physical strain. The cover should also be as secure as possible. The Mil.Org group used a summer cottage for their instruction courses which was rather free-and-easy and at the same time it was located close to the fortress of Röttingen.
This house was selected with greatest care just for the aforesaid reason and the only awkwardness was that the transportation to such an explosive load had to pass strategic points to which German troops were detached. We were in lack of a good interpreter and although this could easily be arranged we could not be sure of the quality and the attitude which such a person might show in a situation like this. Mr. Nils Röttingen Senior was chosen and we knew him to be a fanatical opponent of the Germans. The others to take part were: Torvald Jakobsen, Hans Holmefjord and Magnus K. Röttingen. When the crew had been picked and after a brief bearing we agreed to use rowing boats. These were more practical than motorboats, silently drifting as they were, especially so since we wrapped pieces of cloth round the oars at the oar-locks.
The Rescue Action
That afternoon the watch did not seem to move. The excitement was immense. Everybody was eager to get on the move. The weather was especially favorable with a calm sea and a grey sky with drizzling rain, a weather perfectly fitted for a task like this. We all felt as if we were to attack the entire German force, and we were fully aware of the fact that the chasing after the airmen was in full operation. Everything was set. Each of our men knew exactly what his task was and we started at the time fixed.
At Ramsholman one or our boats was left whilst the other continued to Björnetrynat, about 500 meters away, where the men were to be fetched. The time during which the two men, Mr. Torvald Jakobsen and the interpreter Nils Röttingen, were away to fetch the airmen was felt like an end untold.
But everything worked out nicely and at the time stipulated they were back again with the most precious load that had ever been stowed in the boat. The exultation was tremendous. We all felt that half of the victory had already been achieved, since this first attempt bad been so perfect.
The Germans were on their guard and had placed 7 sentry-boats over an area of some 3 quarter-miles where the possibility of escape might occur should a crossing of the Björnefjord be attempted. This we had taken into account and we consequently refrained from taking that course at this stage.
Then we suddenly felt a dreadful fear for out of the mist appeared all of a sudden a German sentry-boat which fortunately was discovered by the discerning eye of one of our crew. What rescued us was solely the silent pull of our boat. If a boat geared by an engine had been used we would have all been mercilessly doomed.
Our two rowing boats sailed silently between islets and rocks until we reached the bridge extended between Brueröy and Röttingen. This was a place which we had to pass and the greatest care had to be exercised. One of our men was disembarked tor reconnaissance of the area. After a while in greatest excitement we received the signal and we were able to pass the very last of the points which were considered most dangerous.
Ten minutes later we reached our shelter and were under roof. I am convinced that our new friends felt greatly relieved at being lodged in the house and after having gotten some food their tension was considerably reduced.
Now we were able to get better acquainted and we told them of their whereabouts and that the possibility of returning to England was within reach and that cheered them up. They were also told that some days would elapse before the Germans would calm down and give up the door-to-door search which was in operation. Those days would be the worst as the search would likely be intensified and every corner would be rummaged for because, after all, we were hiding less than 6 km. from the landing spot. We had taken into account - which also proved correct - that since the hiding place was located opposite and close to the fortress at Röttingen the Germans would not think that we were audacious enough to place the airmen in such a locality. In order to avoid engaging more people than necessary who knew about our new friends we determined ·to use only the five men who were already taking part. This resulted in long days with a minimum of sleep tor each of the participants. We found it best that each of the members were independent of employers in order to allow him to dispose of his time as equitably as possible.
Before we left the airmen in comfortable beds we told them how to spend both days and nights and even though we were so few there would always be one or two of our men in the neighbourhood to support them. The days to come would be rather strenuous with few hours to sleep.
The Germans' search was now frenetical and they ravaged wildly with raids, interrogations and body of men with dogs.
We had to check which of the areas had been controlled, evaluate the possibilities for our hiding place and scan all rumours that were circulating.
The men picked to this task were beyond doubt the right ones because, when the job was finished no mistakes had been done. After three days things began to calm down. The Germans gave up the fight for the airmen .
Mr. Jacob Hjelle, who was the leader or the Mil.Org. group at Os, had been told that the men were safe in our custody at the Mil.Org. group at Lepsöy. This resulted in a vivid courier activity between Os and Lepsöy. Mr. Jacob Hjelle was in contact with England about the further transportation of the men, but in the meantime he decided to pass them along to Lönningdal, either by land or sea. Sea transportation was preferable but this could not be effected without serious difficulties. We therefore had to make further evaluations and planning.
The airmen were kept in the shelter from 27/9 to 29/9 and everything went according to plan. So far the Germans had scanned all areas, except our hiding place and our home at Björnaroy.
During the time the airmen stayed with us the problem of food supply was prevailing. Our rations, small as they were beforehand, could hardly be sufficient to nourish an additional number of six men. Our women did, however, a fine job and made wonders not only in tracing additional supplies but also in preparing the food.