Helen Nilsen
We were all awakened in about half an hour by the door of the boathouse being rattled and the sound of excited voices. Not knowing if friend or foe, we all remained perfectly still for several minutes until the outside commotion disappeared. After about another hour, we were again awakened by the boathouse door being opened. Then the head and shoulders of a stranger in a Norwegian oilskin coat and hat appeared at the top of the ladder. He looked at us and then asked "Does anyone need a doctor?". We told him we were all in good shape and did not require any medical assistance. Without telling us anything else, he said he had to leave but would be back within the hour, and that we should be prepared to leave with him at that time.
Later we learned that an officer at the German camp opposite the boathouse had been using the upstairs living quarters as a meeting place for himself and his Norwegian girlfriend. Luckily for us this officer was posted to other duties for a couple of weeks just a day or two before we crashed. His bat-man was instructed to lock the cabin securely so no one else could use it. One of the underground obtained another key and the Milorg felt this hiding place right under the German's noses would be a safe place for a few nights.
We didn't find out until several years later that the stranger was Helen Nilsen and he was a British intelligence Officer. Back in early 1942 Nilsen had escaped from Norway to Britain. He had been a wanted man due to his underground activities against the Germans. Along with a few others they sailed across the North Sea in a small fishing boat. in England, Nilsen joined the Special Forces section of the British Intelligence Service, trained in Scotland and later in the year was parachuted back into Norway along with a radio operator. His duties included organizing the resistance movement, training instructors in sabotage, and weapons handling.
In the summer of 1992, Rene and I returned to Norway for a visit and fortunately Helen Nilsen still lived in the suburbs of Bergen and he kindly arranged to take me on a trip back along a portion of the route that was used in our escape. Helen recalled that he was riding his bicycle on the main road near Os when he stopped to talk to a German Officer. At that time our plane came into their view and it circled around into wind over their heads and disappeared over the hill towards the Haugland area. They both knew the plane was going down and Helen hurriedly bicycled to where he thought the plane would crash. When he got close to the Haugland area he was directed by the flames to the landing site and learned that a school teacher had directed us away from the large German encampment at Os. Helen knew that it would take the Germans several hours before they could amount a full scale search, so he felt he might be able to organize our removal from the peninsula where we were effectively trapped.
At the time of our crash Nilsen was involved in a large and very important weapons movement. He, therefore, ordered the resistance groups under his control not to become involved with us as it might jeopardize their weapons operation. When the two Milorg groups, the one at Os and the one at Lepsoy, had made contact and decided that due to the spreading German activity it would be wise to find a safer haven for us, the leader of the Os group suggested that they might be in a better position to hide us. When this action was agreed upon Nilsen became directly involved in the arrangements for our move from Strono to Lønningdal, the area where we were now located.
As he had promised, Nilsen arrived back in about half an hour along with two other men. Once again we were following Norwegians through the woods, this time for about another half hour until we came near a lane way leading to a large farmhouse. we were detained there for about another half hour until a carpet was raised to a window as a signal that it was safe for us to approach. We then hurried up the lane way and were welcomed by an open door. After removing our boots in the entrance hall we entered the living room where we met three other men, one of whom spoke English very well. Realizing that we must be famished they invited us to take seats around a large dining room table. Two women who had been working in the kitchen then brought in a large bowl of hot porridge which they set in the middle of the table. That porridge along with corn bread and hot tea was the best meal that I can remember having in my life. Afterwards Nilsen explained that they would let us sleep for about three hours, after which we would be on the move again. The trip ahead, he said, would be quite strenuous involving hiking up narrow mountain trails.
While we were eating Nilsen asked us questions about our squadron's location, purpose of our mission, and aircraft details. For our part we explained that the only information we would give them was our name, rank and serial number. Nilsen then gave us a -brief history of himself as a Norwegian agent trained in the U.K. and then returned to Norway to assist the resistance groups and therefore we need not worry. We all hoped that he was telling the truth but we were not positive. There was a remote possibility that the whole operation so far could have been an elaborate plan to obtain information from us. So, in spite of Nilsen's assurances, we remained adamant in our refusal to answer questions.
Nilsen, realizing that we were not going to furnish him with the type of information he requested, then explained that due to an odd happening it was essential that we give him some proof of our identity. This was necessary in order that he could satisfy British Intelligence in London that he was actually in contact with us. After our crash the Milorg had apparently spread a rumour that the plane contained eight heavily armed commandos. This was done to prevent the Germans from spreading out in their search for us. Nilsen had sent a courier to Bergen with instructions to advise England he had made contact with a downed R.A.F. crew, however, the radio operator, having heard the rumour, sent a message indicating Nilsen was in contact with a crew of eight not six. Intelligence in London were in quite a flap from the difference in numbers and Nilsen was asked for some positive identification before they would start the wheels turning at that end. After discussing the problem we decided to use Harvey's nickname of "Red" in order to convince the British that it was really us. Having bright red hair, Harvey was known to everyone on the squadron as "Red" and this could easily be verified.
Helen Nilsen told us several years later that the Germans dismantled the charred remains of the Wimpey over a period of several weeks and drove them by truck through Bergen and the surrounding countryside to show Norwegians that several planes had supposedly been destroyed by "ack-ack" fire.
After about a two hour rest we were awakened by Nilsen telling us we were on the move again. First they supplied us with heavy wool stockings and for some of us new footwear in the form of old rubber boots. Heavy sweaters were also supplied which we pulled on over our battle dress tunics. Each of us were also given a backpack to carry. After thanking our hosts for the wonderful supper they had given us we were on our way.
Later we learned that an officer at the German camp opposite the boathouse had been using the upstairs living quarters as a meeting place for himself and his Norwegian girlfriend. Luckily for us this officer was posted to other duties for a couple of weeks just a day or two before we crashed. His bat-man was instructed to lock the cabin securely so no one else could use it. One of the underground obtained another key and the Milorg felt this hiding place right under the German's noses would be a safe place for a few nights.
We didn't find out until several years later that the stranger was Helen Nilsen and he was a British intelligence Officer. Back in early 1942 Nilsen had escaped from Norway to Britain. He had been a wanted man due to his underground activities against the Germans. Along with a few others they sailed across the North Sea in a small fishing boat. in England, Nilsen joined the Special Forces section of the British Intelligence Service, trained in Scotland and later in the year was parachuted back into Norway along with a radio operator. His duties included organizing the resistance movement, training instructors in sabotage, and weapons handling.
In the summer of 1992, Rene and I returned to Norway for a visit and fortunately Helen Nilsen still lived in the suburbs of Bergen and he kindly arranged to take me on a trip back along a portion of the route that was used in our escape. Helen recalled that he was riding his bicycle on the main road near Os when he stopped to talk to a German Officer. At that time our plane came into their view and it circled around into wind over their heads and disappeared over the hill towards the Haugland area. They both knew the plane was going down and Helen hurriedly bicycled to where he thought the plane would crash. When he got close to the Haugland area he was directed by the flames to the landing site and learned that a school teacher had directed us away from the large German encampment at Os. Helen knew that it would take the Germans several hours before they could amount a full scale search, so he felt he might be able to organize our removal from the peninsula where we were effectively trapped.
At the time of our crash Nilsen was involved in a large and very important weapons movement. He, therefore, ordered the resistance groups under his control not to become involved with us as it might jeopardize their weapons operation. When the two Milorg groups, the one at Os and the one at Lepsoy, had made contact and decided that due to the spreading German activity it would be wise to find a safer haven for us, the leader of the Os group suggested that they might be in a better position to hide us. When this action was agreed upon Nilsen became directly involved in the arrangements for our move from Strono to Lønningdal, the area where we were now located.
As he had promised, Nilsen arrived back in about half an hour along with two other men. Once again we were following Norwegians through the woods, this time for about another half hour until we came near a lane way leading to a large farmhouse. we were detained there for about another half hour until a carpet was raised to a window as a signal that it was safe for us to approach. We then hurried up the lane way and were welcomed by an open door. After removing our boots in the entrance hall we entered the living room where we met three other men, one of whom spoke English very well. Realizing that we must be famished they invited us to take seats around a large dining room table. Two women who had been working in the kitchen then brought in a large bowl of hot porridge which they set in the middle of the table. That porridge along with corn bread and hot tea was the best meal that I can remember having in my life. Afterwards Nilsen explained that they would let us sleep for about three hours, after which we would be on the move again. The trip ahead, he said, would be quite strenuous involving hiking up narrow mountain trails.
While we were eating Nilsen asked us questions about our squadron's location, purpose of our mission, and aircraft details. For our part we explained that the only information we would give them was our name, rank and serial number. Nilsen then gave us a -brief history of himself as a Norwegian agent trained in the U.K. and then returned to Norway to assist the resistance groups and therefore we need not worry. We all hoped that he was telling the truth but we were not positive. There was a remote possibility that the whole operation so far could have been an elaborate plan to obtain information from us. So, in spite of Nilsen's assurances, we remained adamant in our refusal to answer questions.
Nilsen, realizing that we were not going to furnish him with the type of information he requested, then explained that due to an odd happening it was essential that we give him some proof of our identity. This was necessary in order that he could satisfy British Intelligence in London that he was actually in contact with us. After our crash the Milorg had apparently spread a rumour that the plane contained eight heavily armed commandos. This was done to prevent the Germans from spreading out in their search for us. Nilsen had sent a courier to Bergen with instructions to advise England he had made contact with a downed R.A.F. crew, however, the radio operator, having heard the rumour, sent a message indicating Nilsen was in contact with a crew of eight not six. Intelligence in London were in quite a flap from the difference in numbers and Nilsen was asked for some positive identification before they would start the wheels turning at that end. After discussing the problem we decided to use Harvey's nickname of "Red" in order to convince the British that it was really us. Having bright red hair, Harvey was known to everyone on the squadron as "Red" and this could easily be verified.
Helen Nilsen told us several years later that the Germans dismantled the charred remains of the Wimpey over a period of several weeks and drove them by truck through Bergen and the surrounding countryside to show Norwegians that several planes had supposedly been destroyed by "ack-ack" fire.
After about a two hour rest we were awakened by Nilsen telling us we were on the move again. First they supplied us with heavy wool stockings and for some of us new footwear in the form of old rubber boots. Heavy sweaters were also supplied which we pulled on over our battle dress tunics. Each of us were also given a backpack to carry. After thanking our hosts for the wonderful supper they had given us we were on our way.