Statsraad Lehmkuhl Oceanics 1972-73

1920-2014

Otto Pletten was a Norwegian war veteran and resistance fighter who served with distinction in the clandestine “Shetland Bus” operation during World War II. He made numerous dangerous crossings of the North Sea to support the Norwegian resistance movement and transport agents and supplies.

At great risk, Otto Pletten made 16 trips across the North Sea during the war. Many of the voyages were with Leif Larsen, better known as Shetlands Larsen and was on Larsen’s first crew on board the “Arthur.” Pletten served as the chief gunner and was on the “Arthur” when they sailed through one of the worst storms in North Sea history on the way to Shetland.

Pletten spend the last half of WWII in a hospital in Edinburgh with a case of pneumonia.

After the war, Otto Pletten received numerous honors including the Kings Medal of Merit in gold and the Norwegian Shipowners Association (Rederiforbundet) gold medal.

After the war, Pletten worked on board the Statsraad Lehmkuhl from 1946 until he retired in 1983. He served as the Sergeant or Quartermaster when the ship was chartered by the Oceanics School. He was born in Radøy, Norway in 1920. He died on Friday, May 9, 2014 and was buried in Sandvikskirken in Bergen.