Kjelness Edward E

Monuments

Operation Rype, B-24 Liberator (42-50331) Crash Site Memorial

ISOB Kjelness

Name:

Edward E Kjelness

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

39230883

Unit:

OSS-Norwegian Operational Group (Norso I/ Norso II)

Date of Death:

1945-03-31

State:

California

Cemetery:

Vestnes Church Cemetery, Vestnes, Vestnes kommune, Møre og Romsdal fylke, Norway

Plot:

Square 08, Row 04, Grave 010

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Bronze Star; Purple Heart

Comments:

Edward Kjelness (Edvart Edvartson Kjellnes) was born on July 5, 1909 in Norway and Immigrated to California.
He was an Office of Strategic Services (OSS) member and part of Team Norso II (part of the OSS Norwegian Operation Group). His team was being transported by a B-24 (#42-50331 of the 856th Bomber Squadron, 492nd Bomber Group) to a parachute site in Norway as part of Operation Rype.
Operation Rype was a mission to impede the redeployment of enemy forces from Norway to Germany. The OSS was a precursor to the CIA.
While enroute to the parachute drop, the plane was forced to turn around due to bad weather. Upon return to Scotland, the plane lost 2 engines and the pilot directed the crew and passengers to bail out. Only the Co-Pilot was able to do so and survived. The rest perished when the plan crashed just south of Kirkwall, Orkney near St. Ola. A memorial remembers the crew and operatives on ““Liberator” Drive in Kirkwall.