Commonwealth War Graves Helleland

In November 1942, an attempt was made to destroy the hydroelectric power station at Vermork, in Telemark, where heavy water was produced for German atomic research. Two gliders and an aircraft engaged in the raid crashed in southern Norway. All those aboard, Royal Engineers of the 1st Airborne Division and members of the Commonwealth air forces, were either killed in the crash or died later, at the hands of their German captors. The heavy water plant was eventually destroyed by a party of six Norwegians dropped by parachute in 1943. Helleland Churchyard contains the graves of seven Commonwealth airmen who died in the raid. The others who died in the incident are buried in Stavanger (Eiganes) Churchyard.