Leif Edvin Meland was born on 28 February 1914 in Lista, Vest-Agder County, Norway. His parents were Emil Kristiansen and Lina Syvertsen. He worked as a stoker and signed off in New York in 1940. While in New York, Leif went into military service. He trained as a paratrooper and jumped behind enemy lines in France and Germany.
(Partial translation from: www.vg.no/spesial/2015/vaare_falne/?personId=16899)
During WWII he became an OSS agent, and he was on his way to Norway when he was killed in an accident.
His plane a B-24 Liberator with serial number 42-50331 of the 492nd Bombardment Group, 856th Bomb Squadron (The Carpetbaggers) set off from Harrington Northhampshire on 30 March 1945. There were 19 B-24s involved in mission 919 to support Operation Rype forces in Norway. On board the plane were 6 Norwegian OSS agents who were to parachute into Norway. Bad weather forced several of the planes to turn back without being able to make their drop. This plane was one of ones forced to turn back. The only survivor reported that there was a fuel problem on the return flight and 2 of the 4 engines stopped and could not be restarted. The pilot could no longer control the plane and gave the order to bail out. The plane finally crashed at Walliwall at 04:50 on 31 March 1945. Seven crew members and 6 others on board died in the crash. The co pilot Lt Peter C. Pulrang was the only survivor.
Officers:
Henry L. Polansky - Pilot (KIA)
John K. Lancaster - Copilot
Peter C. Pulrang - Copilot (WIA)
Charles J. Allessio 5143575 - Navigator (KIA)
Frederick W. Smickle,Jr. - Bombardier (KIA)
Enlisted Crew:
Thomas E. Houseman,Jr. - R.O.
William E. Lewis,Jr. - Engineer (KIA)
William D. Almaraz - Gunner
Eugene J. Graf,Jr. - Gunner (KIA)
Edward W. Kussman - Gunner (KIA)
Robert L. Rinker - Gunner
William K. Stevens - Engineer (KIA)
OSS Agents:
Trygve Berge (KIA)
Edward E. Kjelness (Kjellnes) (KIA)
Leif E.K. Meland (KIA)
Gerald (Gjerulf) Ottersland (KIA)
Johannes S. Nørvick (Rørvik) (KIA)
Eddie O. Sondeno (Søndenå) (KIA)
(OSS: Office of Strategic Services, this is CIA today.)
Burial info found at:
http://www.disnorge.no/gravminner/vis.php?mode=x
(Partial translation from: www.vg.no/spesial/2015/vaare_falne/?personId=16899)
During WWII he became an OSS agent, and he was on his way to Norway when he was killed in an accident.
His plane a B-24 Liberator with serial number 42-50331 of the 492nd Bombardment Group, 856th Bomb Squadron (The Carpetbaggers) set off from Harrington Northhampshire on 30 March 1945. There were 19 B-24s involved in mission 919 to support Operation Rype forces in Norway. On board the plane were 6 Norwegian OSS agents who were to parachute into Norway. Bad weather forced several of the planes to turn back without being able to make their drop. This plane was one of ones forced to turn back. The only survivor reported that there was a fuel problem on the return flight and 2 of the 4 engines stopped and could not be restarted. The pilot could no longer control the plane and gave the order to bail out. The plane finally crashed at Walliwall at 04:50 on 31 March 1945. Seven crew members and 6 others on board died in the crash. The co pilot Lt Peter C. Pulrang was the only survivor.
Officers:
Henry L. Polansky - Pilot (KIA)
John K. Lancaster - Copilot
Peter C. Pulrang - Copilot (WIA)
Charles J. Allessio 5143575 - Navigator (KIA)
Frederick W. Smickle,Jr. - Bombardier (KIA)
Enlisted Crew:
Thomas E. Houseman,Jr. - R.O.
William E. Lewis,Jr. - Engineer (KIA)
William D. Almaraz - Gunner
Eugene J. Graf,Jr. - Gunner (KIA)
Edward W. Kussman - Gunner (KIA)
Robert L. Rinker - Gunner
William K. Stevens - Engineer (KIA)
OSS Agents:
Trygve Berge (KIA)
Edward E. Kjelness (Kjellnes) (KIA)
Leif E.K. Meland (KIA)
Gerald (Gjerulf) Ottersland (KIA)
Johannes S. Nørvick (Rørvik) (KIA)
Eddie O. Sondeno (Søndenå) (KIA)
(OSS: Office of Strategic Services, this is CIA today.)
Burial info found at:
http://www.disnorge.no/gravminner/vis.php?mode=x
Leif Edvin Meland was born on 28 February 1914 in Lista, Vest-Agder County, Norway. His parents were Emil Kristiansen and Lina Syvertsen. He worked as a stoker and signed off in New York in 1940. While in New York, Leif went into military service. He trained as a paratrooper and jumped behind enemy lines in France and Germany.
(Partial translation from: www.vg.no/spesial/2015/vaare_falne/?personId=16899)
During WWII he became an OSS agent, and he was on his way to Norway when he was killed in an accident.
His plane a B-24 Liberator with serial number 42-50331 of the 492nd Bombardment Group, 856th Bomb Squadron (The Carpetbaggers) set off from Harrington Northhampshire on 30 March 1945. There were 19 B-24s involved in mission 919 to support Operation Rype forces in Norway. On board the plane were 6 Norwegian OSS agents who were to parachute into Norway. Bad weather forced several of the planes to turn back without being able to make their drop. This plane was one of ones forced to turn back. The only survivor reported that there was a fuel problem on the return flight and 2 of the 4 engines stopped and could not be restarted. The pilot could no longer control the plane and gave the order to bail out. The plane finally crashed at Walliwall at 04:50 on 31 March 1945. Seven crew members and 6 others on board died in the crash. The co pilot Lt Peter C. Pulrang was the only survivor.
Officers:
Henry L. Polansky - Pilot (KIA)
John K. Lancaster - Copilot
Peter C. Pulrang - Copilot (WIA)
Charles J. Allessio 5143575 - Navigator (KIA)
Frederick W. Smickle,Jr. - Bombardier (KIA)
Enlisted Crew:
Thomas E. Houseman,Jr. - R.O.
William E. Lewis,Jr. - Engineer (KIA)
William D. Almaraz - Gunner
Eugene J. Graf,Jr. - Gunner (KIA)
Edward W. Kussman - Gunner (KIA)
Robert L. Rinker - Gunner
William K. Stevens - Engineer (KIA)
OSS Agents:
Trygve Berge (KIA)
Edward E. Kjelness (Kjellnes) (KIA)
Leif E.K. Meland (KIA)
Gerald (Gjerulf) Ottersland (KIA)
Johannes S. Nørvick (Rørvik) (KIA)
Eddie O. Sondeno (Søndenå) (KIA)
(OSS: Office of Strategic Services, this is CIA today.)
Burial info found at:
http://www.disnorge.no/gravminner/vis.php?mode=x
(Partial translation from: www.vg.no/spesial/2015/vaare_falne/?personId=16899)
During WWII he became an OSS agent, and he was on his way to Norway when he was killed in an accident.
His plane a B-24 Liberator with serial number 42-50331 of the 492nd Bombardment Group, 856th Bomb Squadron (The Carpetbaggers) set off from Harrington Northhampshire on 30 March 1945. There were 19 B-24s involved in mission 919 to support Operation Rype forces in Norway. On board the plane were 6 Norwegian OSS agents who were to parachute into Norway. Bad weather forced several of the planes to turn back without being able to make their drop. This plane was one of ones forced to turn back. The only survivor reported that there was a fuel problem on the return flight and 2 of the 4 engines stopped and could not be restarted. The pilot could no longer control the plane and gave the order to bail out. The plane finally crashed at Walliwall at 04:50 on 31 March 1945. Seven crew members and 6 others on board died in the crash. The co pilot Lt Peter C. Pulrang was the only survivor.
Officers:
Henry L. Polansky - Pilot (KIA)
John K. Lancaster - Copilot
Peter C. Pulrang - Copilot (WIA)
Charles J. Allessio 5143575 - Navigator (KIA)
Frederick W. Smickle,Jr. - Bombardier (KIA)
Enlisted Crew:
Thomas E. Houseman,Jr. - R.O.
William E. Lewis,Jr. - Engineer (KIA)
William D. Almaraz - Gunner
Eugene J. Graf,Jr. - Gunner (KIA)
Edward W. Kussman - Gunner (KIA)
Robert L. Rinker - Gunner
William K. Stevens - Engineer (KIA)
OSS Agents:
Trygve Berge (KIA)
Edward E. Kjelness (Kjellnes) (KIA)
Leif E.K. Meland (KIA)
Gerald (Gjerulf) Ottersland (KIA)
Johannes S. Nørvick (Rørvik) (KIA)
Eddie O. Sondeno (Søndenå) (KIA)
(OSS: Office of Strategic Services, this is CIA today.)
Burial info found at:
http://www.disnorge.no/gravminner/vis.php?mode=x
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