Jens-Anton Poulsson
| Jens-Anton Poulsson | |
|---|---|
Jens-Anton Poulsson shaking hands with King Haakon VII at the release of the 1948 film Operation Swallow: The Battle for Heavy Water
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| Born |
27 October 1918 Tinn, Norway |
| Died | 2 February 2010 (aged 91) |
| Allegiance | Norway |
| Service/branch | Norwegian Army |
| Years of service | 1940–1982 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Norwegian Independent Company 1 |
| Commands held | Danish–Norwegian battalion of UNEF His Majesty The King's Guard 3rd Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Norwegian Campaign |
| Awards |
 War Cross with sword Defence Medal with rosette Haakon VIIs 70th Anniversary Medal Distinguished Service Order
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Jens-Anton Poulsson DSO, (27 October 1918 in Tinn – 2 February 2010) was a Norwegian military officer. During World War II he was a Norwegian resistance member, especially noted for his role in the heavy water sabotage 1942–1943. He continued his military career after the war, and was appointed colonel in 1968.
Poulsson served as a second lieutenant in the Norwegian Independent Company 1 (Norwegian: Kompani Linge) during World War II. As a leader of the Grouse team he parachuted onto the Hardangervidda plateau on 18 October 1942, along with Arne Kjelstrup, Knut Haugland and Claus Helberg. The team landed at Fjarefit in Songadalen, and prepared to receive British troops of Operation Freshman at Møsvassdammen. The Freshman operation was a failure, as the two gliders crashed. Another operation, called Gunnerside, was successful. The Gunnerside team joined the Grouse (later renamed Swallow), and the combined team succeeded in the destruction of heavy water equipment and stock at Vemork in February 1943. After the sabotage Poulsson escaped to Oslo, and later via Sweden to the United Kingdom.
Poulsson was awarded Norway's War Cross with sword, after his return to United Kingdom in 1943. It was presented to him by King Haakon at a ceremony at the training school STS 26 in Scotland, near Nethy Bridge. Also Rønneberg, leader of the Gunnerside team, received the War Cross with sword at this ceremony, while the other participants in the heavy water sabotage received the St. Olav's Medal With Oak Branch.
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