Mr. Halvdor Ovredal's Story
The first and most dangerous part of the rescue task had now happily and perfectly been carried through by Mr. Einar Evensen and his men. At Lönningdal Mr. Jakob Hjelle, Mr. Helèn Mowinckel Nilsen and Mr. Haldor Øvredal took over the precious and perilous load which the first men of the action group with their tiny boat had delivered at the appointed time and place. It is hard to conceive the strains both physically and psychically which these men from Canada had to endure on this trip. All of them were very brave and were, from our point of view, worthy representatives of their country in their fight against our mutual enemies.
We dare say that their patience and strength gave all of us who participated in this task both inspiration and courage together with luck and unbelievable audacity. The result was that we won the struggle against our common opponents. We who were fortunate enough to take part in this action have kept in our minds the memory of a fine and well organized action.
At Lönningdal our Canadian friends stopped for two hours and were well cared for after their hard trip. This meant primarily warmth and food in the home of Marta Ovredal at Lönningdal. Unfortunately their stay in her home should rather be a short one on account of the fear for the German watch patrols.
Our friends had to proceed into the Norwegian mountains, making a three hour walk on a very steep ground. At last they reached a remote lumber shanty in the mountains which had been erected tor the use of the Norwegian ·civil defence force. The owner was Mr. Fredrik Øvredal.
The Canadian airmen baptized the cottage “Little Canada" and this cottage was to form their home for many days under constant fear. One of the men from our own action group, Mr. Ivar Dyngeland, (he is now dead) who was also hiding in the same cottage lived together with them all the time.
We tried to maintain a guard on all principal spots leading to the cottage "Little Canada". The admission to the cottage from Rolvsvag was guarded by Mr. Rolf Olsen, (now dead) and Mr. Haldor Øvredal.
The other path leading to the cottage was guarded by people residing at Lönningdal and Ovredal, but only two people knew what was the purpose of the guard, viz. Marta Ovredal and Mr. Kjell Harmens.
Everything turned out well. German patrols were searching the area regularly without knowing what was going on. In the meantime Mr. Jakob Hjelle, who was the leader of the Mil.Org.-group at Os, established contact with England for the return of the airmen to Shetland.
Then the very hazardous return from the mountains to Øvredal was started. Everything was prepared from the farm of Ida and Nils Øvredal. These two people who were then rather old had been asked to move away for some time. Their children Ingeborg, Marta and Knut Øvredal were terrified at the news of the visit to be expected, but these women and men had been accustomed to many a shock and the arrangement, therefore, was successfully carried through.
In spite of lack of food the airman were served a rather abundant Norwegian meal and in addition they could also enjoy some sleep before the next phase started. This remains, we believe, as a brief but cosy stop in the minds of all our Canadian friends.
During the night at Øvredal extra sentries were posted and a concealed telephone extension was connected with the German telephone net. Mr. Edvard Lönningdal and the brothers Fredrik and Alf Haggland were selected as telephone supervisors and they controlled the roads leading to Øvredal and Lönningdal. In our leisure we have frequently wondered whether our friends really understood how dangerous this transportation by boat really was taking into consideration that it was carried through in bright daylight.
This is not said to underestimate the sound judgment of our friends but merely as an interrogation point.
Before we left Lönningdal by boat the alarm was sounded twice, but fortunately both appeared harmless. We then arrived at Björndalsnostat (house at the sea-side). There we met Mr. Lars Orrebakken who presented himself at the predetermined time with his boat.
Now the final and decisive leg or the task of the Os-group started.
Our six friends were stowed under the deck of the tiny vessel ·and we saluted tor the last time the group that had now fulfilled their mission. Mr. Lars Orrebakken who had the command of the vessel started on the final leg of the transportation from Os together with Mr. Haldor Øvredal.
After a short while we reached the critical point which was Hatvik in the Björnefjord, one of the strongest naval bases which the Germans had on the west coast of Norway. We headed straight ahead between the German naval units lying in the fiord, 10 to 15 in number, both surface vessels and submarines.
We waved our hands to the vessels and crews who followed us through their binoculars and periscopes. Our friendly beckoning and gestures were reciprocated by the Germans, obviously because they believed us to form a friendly fishing team.
Our friend, the chief pilot, eagerly wanted to come up. As the vigil and efficient soldier he undoubtedly was, he wanted to make his observations. If he succeeded in joining his wing again he would return to Hatvik and salute the Germans through a bombardment of Hatvik. As things were, with a heavy heart, we had to prevent this brave soldier from carrying out his desire.
The remaining part of our voyage was passed calmly and comfortably. We passed the airmen in the hands of Mr. Einar Evensen and Mr. Sverre Ostervoll. The latter brought them safely to M/S "VIGRA" which was commanded by Mr. Leif Larsen.
If we should try to sum up the incidents of this operation in a short resume there is a combination of three factors involved, viz., audacity, a fantastic luck and a small amount or efficiency. Our endeavours so luckily brought to an end were greatly recompensated by the fact that over the radio we received the following statement from England: "It is raining in the mountains".
Operation concluded!
Halder Ovredal (sign.)
The first and most dangerous part of the rescue task had now happily and perfectly been carried through by Mr. Einar Evensen and his men. At Lönningdal Mr. Jakob Hjelle, Mr. Helèn Mowinckel Nilsen and Mr. Haldor Øvredal took over the precious and perilous load which the first men of the action group with their tiny boat had delivered at the appointed time and place. It is hard to conceive the strains both physically and psychically which these men from Canada had to endure on this trip. All of them were very brave and were, from our point of view, worthy representatives of their country in their fight against our mutual enemies.
We dare say that their patience and strength gave all of us who participated in this task both inspiration and courage together with luck and unbelievable audacity. The result was that we won the struggle against our common opponents. We who were fortunate enough to take part in this action have kept in our minds the memory of a fine and well organized action.
At Lönningdal our Canadian friends stopped for two hours and were well cared for after their hard trip. This meant primarily warmth and food in the home of Marta Ovredal at Lönningdal. Unfortunately their stay in her home should rather be a short one on account of the fear for the German watch patrols.
Our friends had to proceed into the Norwegian mountains, making a three hour walk on a very steep ground. At last they reached a remote lumber shanty in the mountains which had been erected tor the use of the Norwegian ·civil defence force. The owner was Mr. Fredrik Øvredal.
The Canadian airmen baptized the cottage “Little Canada" and this cottage was to form their home for many days under constant fear. One of the men from our own action group, Mr. Ivar Dyngeland, (he is now dead) who was also hiding in the same cottage lived together with them all the time.
We tried to maintain a guard on all principal spots leading to the cottage "Little Canada". The admission to the cottage from Rolvsvag was guarded by Mr. Rolf Olsen, (now dead) and Mr. Haldor Øvredal.
The other path leading to the cottage was guarded by people residing at Lönningdal and Ovredal, but only two people knew what was the purpose of the guard, viz. Marta Ovredal and Mr. Kjell Harmens.
Everything turned out well. German patrols were searching the area regularly without knowing what was going on. In the meantime Mr. Jakob Hjelle, who was the leader of the Mil.Org.-group at Os, established contact with England for the return of the airmen to Shetland.
Then the very hazardous return from the mountains to Øvredal was started. Everything was prepared from the farm of Ida and Nils Øvredal. These two people who were then rather old had been asked to move away for some time. Their children Ingeborg, Marta and Knut Øvredal were terrified at the news of the visit to be expected, but these women and men had been accustomed to many a shock and the arrangement, therefore, was successfully carried through.
In spite of lack of food the airman were served a rather abundant Norwegian meal and in addition they could also enjoy some sleep before the next phase started. This remains, we believe, as a brief but cosy stop in the minds of all our Canadian friends.
During the night at Øvredal extra sentries were posted and a concealed telephone extension was connected with the German telephone net. Mr. Edvard Lönningdal and the brothers Fredrik and Alf Haggland were selected as telephone supervisors and they controlled the roads leading to Øvredal and Lönningdal. In our leisure we have frequently wondered whether our friends really understood how dangerous this transportation by boat really was taking into consideration that it was carried through in bright daylight.
This is not said to underestimate the sound judgment of our friends but merely as an interrogation point.
Before we left Lönningdal by boat the alarm was sounded twice, but fortunately both appeared harmless. We then arrived at Björndalsnostat (house at the sea-side). There we met Mr. Lars Orrebakken who presented himself at the predetermined time with his boat.
Now the final and decisive leg or the task of the Os-group started.
Our six friends were stowed under the deck of the tiny vessel ·and we saluted tor the last time the group that had now fulfilled their mission. Mr. Lars Orrebakken who had the command of the vessel started on the final leg of the transportation from Os together with Mr. Haldor Øvredal.
After a short while we reached the critical point which was Hatvik in the Björnefjord, one of the strongest naval bases which the Germans had on the west coast of Norway. We headed straight ahead between the German naval units lying in the fiord, 10 to 15 in number, both surface vessels and submarines.
We waved our hands to the vessels and crews who followed us through their binoculars and periscopes. Our friendly beckoning and gestures were reciprocated by the Germans, obviously because they believed us to form a friendly fishing team.
Our friend, the chief pilot, eagerly wanted to come up. As the vigil and efficient soldier he undoubtedly was, he wanted to make his observations. If he succeeded in joining his wing again he would return to Hatvik and salute the Germans through a bombardment of Hatvik. As things were, with a heavy heart, we had to prevent this brave soldier from carrying out his desire.
The remaining part of our voyage was passed calmly and comfortably. We passed the airmen in the hands of Mr. Einar Evensen and Mr. Sverre Ostervoll. The latter brought them safely to M/S "VIGRA" which was commanded by Mr. Leif Larsen.
If we should try to sum up the incidents of this operation in a short resume there is a combination of three factors involved, viz., audacity, a fantastic luck and a small amount or efficiency. Our endeavours so luckily brought to an end were greatly recompensated by the fact that over the radio we received the following statement from England: "It is raining in the mountains".
Operation concluded!
Halder Ovredal (sign.)