| Farmland around this area was also the site of an airfield during the Second World War. Buildings still remain and are used as Farm Buildings and stores | |
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| Skitten War Memorial | Map Ref - 12/ND325570 |
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Although is
is apparently included in the Orkneyinga Saga the name is not easily found
on modern maps. the airfield at Skitten was the base for the attack
on the Heavy Water plant at Vermork in Norway called Operation Freshman.
Bombing had been tried and failed and so it was decided to try gliders for
an attack. 32 volunteer airborne troops and two Whitley crews from
38 wing moved onto Halifaxes. There was some confusion at the norway
end and the beacons set by the Norwegians could not be found. The
tow rope on one plane broke through icing and the plane the glider crashed
into amountain. the tow plane just made it back to Skitten.
Another combination flew into a mountain and everyone on both planes were
killed. Their were survivors from the first crashed glider who were
captured and later executed by the Gestapo.. |
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