DS “Eira” as she looked in 1936. It was attacked twice during the 1940–45 war, but was saved both times. In 1954 the ship was sold for scrapping.
Photo: Lent by Jan Olav Flatmark
80 years after the deadly attack, the history of those who lost their lives is being pulled from oblivion. While the last time witnesses can still tell the story:
Survivors Johan Arne Johansen (100) and Sveinung Giske in the Haram cultural history team. This was the first time Johan was back at Hestøya, where the tragedy took place. Photo: Staale Wattø
On 24 October 1944, one of the greatest war tragedies occurred on Sunnmøre.
The DS “Eira” was attacked by allied aircraft, during an operation where the aim was to mine the narrow fairway at Lepsøyrevet.
The British planes also attacked the German coastal batteries in the area and Ulla lighthouse.
By mistake, the English also attacked the civilian passenger boat, which ended up in the middle of a deadly inferno.
It was a beautiful autumn day and people were sitting out on the deck when the attack suddenly came.
The steamship was in regular traffic from Lepsøya to Skjelten with 40 people on board. 16 of them died and 7 were injured.
There were several waves of planes firing at the ship with machine guns.
The exact time is set from the watch of one of those killed in the hail of bullets, it stopped at 09:54.
“The small steamship was attacked by planes that came in four waves and fired machine guns at the ship. The passengers took it calmly at first, but as the rain of bullets increased in strength and the bullets began to squeal around their ears, the fear and despair increased,” Sunnmørsposten wrote the next day.
Again it was aircraft from the Fleet Air Arm that were on the way. The operation was codenamed “Hardy” and was to mine the Haramsfjorden and Lepsøyrenna, in addition to attacking shipping in the area. A repeat of the attack on 10 August.
The aircraft carriers “Trumpeter” and “Campania” with escort vessels headed towards the Sunnmøre coast. The air force consisted of Grumman Avengers from 846 and 852 Squadron and Wildcats from 813 Squadron. 16 mines were to be laid in two attacks.
The fleet was detected at 09.30 by the German radar station at Molnes. This time the enemy was prepared for what was coming. In Ålesund, the flight alert went off on 10.02. At 10.15 the coastal batteries on Roald and Bjørnøya report that they are being attacked by low-flying aircraft. On Roald, one German soldier was killed and three injured.
Per schedule the boat left Lepsøya at 09.50 and was at Hestøya when the plane attacked. As the eight Avengers from 846 squadron dropped the mines, “Eira” arrives in the middle of the operation:
Some of the aircraft that took part in the attack on “Eira”, Grumman Avenger from 846 Squadron. They took off from “Trumpeter”.
Here they are on their way to mine Lepsøyrenna on 10 August 1944:
Why the air force attacked the civilian liner is not clear from the available archive material. Not even after conversations and correspondence with veterans from 846 Squadron. The situation was chaotic and the plane was fired upon from several sides. That probably contributed to the tragedy.
Hilda Meltevik from Lonvga told Haramsnytt the following on 24 October 1984:
"I was going to the hospital in Ålesund where my daughter, Marta, was operated on for her tonsils. I was a little late, so I got my son to ride in front, if possible to hold the boat for a few minutes so that I could join. Captain Svinø, whom I knew as a good colleague of my husband, held the boat for the necessary five minutes. If only he hadn’t done that… Well on board the boat I sat down on deck, because you get sweaty from rushing like that, and it was cool on deck. It was also eerily quiet, so it was nice to sit there. At the back of the boat I remember there was a large Norwegian flag, made of wood. This mark was enough for the boat to be easily recognized as Norwegian.
But the plane didn’t shoot at us. They went over and dropped sea mines over the Skjelten. But when they returned, there was no more mercy. “Eira”, which was heading south, got the plane in from the port side, and the merciless machine-gun fire spread death and destruction over the boat.
After the plane had gone on its way, it was completely quiet on board the boat. People were like lambs. There were bodies all over the place, and the blood pooled. Many had lost their loved ones.
Gradually there were boats, and although I unfortunately can’t come up with the name on the fly, it was a Lepsøy boat that I remember. They had the private nurse on the island with them, and the effort she and the crew made cannot be measured. I don’t think they have been properly thanked afterwards, and it’s a shame if so. They were very helpful."
The Inquiry took place on 30 October behind closed doors with the city bailiff as the judge. Maritime court witness was harbor bailiff Christiansen, Oberfeldwebel Bühl appeared for the German harbor captain, surveyor Johansen-Aspelund for the ship inspector and engineer Eldrup for MFR.
Captain Peder Nikolai Svinø explained himself as follows:
"Immediately, approx. 5 minutes after departure from Kjerstad, we became aware of planes around Lepsøy. As the planes were spotted, the engine was switched clear and the rudder put to starboard to seek cover under Hestøya, at the same time all the passengers were ordered to seek cover.
The planes attacked, and in order to save the people, ship and cargo, we headed towards Hestøya and the ship was run aground:
Hestøya (in the foreground) by Lepsøya. Here the ship was delebratly run aground after being attacked by British aircraft. Photo: Staale Wattø
When the attack, which came in several waves, was over, boats and rafts were put out, but filled when they were penetrated. The steam whistle signaled for help and the ship’s crew immediately set about bringing the passengers ashore on Hestøya and taking care of the wounded. During the rescue work, boats came from shore and helped with the rescue work, which went well."
The eerie howl from the whistle on the steamship came to follow many for the rest of their lives. Among other things, students from the secondary school at Åkre on Haramsøya witnessed the entire attack - including those who had their own on board.
"When the rescue work was finished, it turned out that there were 12 dead, including the ship’s second mate, Bernt Hurlen, as well as 10 wounded who were sent to Ålesund with an extra boat, and one slightly wounded who was sent to Skjelten (…)
There was no flight warning, alarm signal or other signal of danger given to the ship whatsoever. Every man was in place and carried out his duties and orders precisely and punctually," Captain Svinø testified in the naval statement.
Sunnmørsposten refers to many of the funerals in the following days. The tragedy was naturally tried to be exploited by the Nazis, with county governor Thor Taraldsen in NS at the head.
The episode joined a sad series of similar incidents where civilian scheduled traffic had to be avoided. Allied shelling of around twenty local boats and express boats accounted for most civilian lives lost in the Second World War, around 1,200 in total.
Erling Rønneberg, who ran the clandetian radio station on Torholmen, was so enraged by the attack on “Eira” that he threatened London to discontinue all his resistance work.
At the joint funeral for four of the victims from Haramsøy, parish priest Hove expressed himself as follows:
“They see that the whole island has gathered to show you sympathy and cry with you, dear grieving relatives.
But what can we do, and what power do our words have? But there is a stronger and gentler comforter. What has happened to you is heavy and painful, but the Lord still only has thoughts of peace with you.
Do not be bitter in your hearts. Do not grumble against God”.
