Operation RYPE was the codename of the American airborne unit who in WW2 was dropped in the Norwegian mountains of Snåsa on March 24, 1945 to carry out sabotage actions behind enemy lines.
Trained in Scotland and with help from SOE operators the group conducted successful railroad sabotages, with the intention of preventing the withdrawal of German forces from northern Norway.
Operation Rype was the only U.S. operation on Norwegian soil during WW2. Our 10 day expedition will follow OSS and SOE operators as they blew bridges and carried out operations in the German occupied region of northern Norway.
The unit was part of Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a US intelligence agency during World War II and the forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The soldiers were mainly recruited from the 99th Battalion, a unique elite unit in the US Army consisting of Norwegians and Americans with direct Norwegian descent, Norwegian-speaking Americans, and in the group there where also some Norwegians that from different reasons had ended up in the US during the war. The operation was led by Major William Colby, later director of the CIA.
Come follow in their footsteps March 2026.
Our 10 - day expedition will be based out of the original farm used as the OSS headquarters at Gjefsjøen mountain farm.
From the original base at Gjefsjøen mountain farm we will follow their routes as they conducted successful railroad sabotages as German forces withdrew from northern Norway.
We will also look at the SOE sabotage group who carried out Operation Woodlark a sabotage operation against Jørstad bridge in Snåsa. Woodlark was British-led and included members of the Norwegian Independent Company No.1 (Company Linge). Soldiers from Woodlark later joined the American-led Operation Rype.
Includes full board, all transfers in country, expedition ski equipment, guide fees and survival training.
Does not include flights to Norway.
Can be paid in instalments.
