Monuments
Operation Rype, B-24 (“Cookie” 42-40549) Crash Site Memorial Pyramid
Operation Rype, B-24 “Cookie” (42-40549) Engine Memorial
Bernard Iverson was born on January 8, 1924 and was from Wisconsin.
He was an Office of Strategic Services (OSS) member and part of the OSS Norwegian Operation Group. His team was being transported by a B-24 “Cookie” (#42-40549) of the 856th Bomber Squadron, 492nd Bomber Group flying from Airbase 179, Harrington to a parachute site in Norway as part of Operation Rype.
Operation Rype (Grouse) 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 crashed near the drop objective. All crew and OSS Operatives were killed in the crash on the Plukkutjønnfjellet mountain peak near Snåsa in Middle Norway. (Reference Missing Aircraft Report {MACR} 13740).
The crew of B-24 “Cookie” (42-40549) included:
1LT WILLIAM H. HUDSON -PILOT
1LT LEON G. DIBBLE Jr. – CO-PILOT
2LT RICHARD A. BOSCH - BOMBARDIER
F/O ARTHUR. H. BARBKNECHT- NAVIGATOR
SGT GILBERT. F. MAGRUGER – RADIO OPERATOR
SGT FAYETTE SHELLEDY- GUNNER
SGT JACK H. SPYKER- GUNNER
SGT ANGELO SANTINI - ENGINEER
The Operatives of the OSS Norwegian Group on board included:
1LT BLAINE E. JONES
T/3 ROBERT. N. ANDERSON
CPL KNUT J. FALCK
T/5 BERNARD N. IVERSON
A memorial to them in located at the crash site in Norway.
FROM FIND A GRAVE:
"T/5 Bernard N. Iverson served with the OSS during WWII in the Norwegian Operational Group (NORSO). In March and April 1945, Operation RYPE involved the insertion of NORSO teams into Norway to link up with the Norwegian resistance. They were to carry out sabotage missions aimed at preventing the movement of German troops from Norway back to Germany.
On 7 April 1945, the B-24 aircraft carrying T/5 Iverson and three other NORSO members, crashed in the vicinity of Plukkutjønnfjell, Norway killing all on board."