Operation Martin Red

'Martin Red' was a British operation by the Special Operations Executive to create radio contact between the UK and local groups in the Troms area of German-occupied Norway, investigate and make contact with these groups, and finally organise them into small units which could then attack targets in support of an Allied landing (24 March 1943).

Comprising S. Eskeland, P. R. Blindheim, G. Solberg and Jan S. Baalsrud, the party departed the UK by sea on 24 March and arrived off the Norwegian coast on 27 March. A local tradesman, with whom the group had made contact, had told the authorities, and thus the Gestapo was on hand to intercept the landing. The only member of the team to survive was Baalsrud, who made a remarkable journey to Sweden, which he reached toward the end of May.