(Caption: The star banner at the top! The paratroopers set up their neighborhood in Phoenix.) The American paratroopers who jumped into the Snåsafjellene on Palm Sunday, and which we have previously mentioned in the newspaper, set up their headquarters at Hotel Phoenix in Trondheim yesterday.
36 selected great men greeted the star banner when it went to the top yesterday afternoon, with great attention from the audience. They also deserved the first Allied soldiers in uniform on Norwegian soil in this war. Lt. Col. Gerard Bolland is commander-in-chief, but the group is led by Major William E. Colby.
He could tell us that the group counts 27 Americans and 9 Norwegians, and also most Americans are of Norwegian descent. They had skis with them when they made the jump from the bombers that brought them in, and are according to what the major states the first paratroopers equipped with skis.
An extra oddity is that Lt, Col. Gerard Bolland is not only of Norwegian descent, his grandfather is from Bollandgården in FIå – but the same grandfather was employed at Nordlandsbanen (railroad) in his time and helped build the line that his grandson in the war had the task of destroying.
Well, we’ll not blame the lieutenant colonel for that!
He did not want to be in our picture, but he will be looking at Colonel Holterman’s tribune at the military parade today. As previously mentioned, the paratroopers will march after the home forces.
(Adresseavisen 14/5-45)
WW2 sabotage
Operasjon rype
In the last months of the war during spring 1945. Gjefsjøen Mountain Farm was a central location as part of the sabotage operation "Operasjon Rype". The saboteurs had their headquarter at the farm. Operasjon Rype's mission was to sabotage the railroad through Trøndelag and Snåsa. Today Home Guard's task force "Rype" is named after the operation.
Restoring of Operasjon Rype's headquarter
OSS Gjefsjøen
The building which was headquarter for Operation Rype was in bad shape after standing empty for years. OSS Gjefsjøen are now restoring the building. The association OSS Gjefsjøen will convey the story of Operasjon Rype which in the final phase of World War II operated from its base on Gjefsjøen mountain farm. The building will be restored in the original appearance from when Operasjon Rype was carried out.
Licour based on local herbs and plants from Gjefsjøen
Gjefsjøakevitt (Aquavit)
Distilled at Inderøy Brenneri (distillery) based on pure water, plants, herbs and botanicals from Gjefsjøen Mountain Farm. Made as a tribute to the heros from Operasjon Rype who had their base at Gjefsjøen in the end og World War II.
