Einar Skinnarland



Einar Skinnarland DCM (27 April 1918 – 5 December 2002) was a Norwegian resistance fighter during the Second World War.

Einar Skinnarland was born in Vinje, in Telemark county, Norway. Skinnarland  graduated from Telemark Engineering College in Porsgrunn.

He reached Aberdeen with the hijacked coastal steamer Galtesund in 1942, and was soon enrolled as a member of the Norwegian Independent Company 1 (Kompani Linge) under the SOE. He participated as a wireless operator in the Norwegian heavy water sabotage at the Vemork hydroelectric plant, site of the heavy water production at Rjukanfossen in Telemark. He was the first agent to be sent to Rjukan, dropped on the Hardangervidda on 28 March 1942. He had lived near the factory almost all of his life. His brother and several of his friends also worked at the factory.

Skinnarland moved to Toronto in Canada in 1965 and helped build some of the world's largest dams.

Awards
Einar Skinnarland was highly decorated for his wartime achievements.
 * War Cross with sword
 * Distinguished Conduct Medal
 * Medal of Freedom
 * Croix de Guerre avec palme