GERMAN UNIT ATTACKED

Southland Times, Issue 24682, 2 March 1942, Page 5

GERMAN UNIT ATTACKED

PARACHUTE RAID BY BRITISH LANDING MADE IN FRANCE (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 28. A joint Admiralty War Office and Air Ministry communique reports that a raid, in which the three services played an equally important and interdependent part, was directed against the valuable German radio location unit at Bruneval, 12 miles north of Le Havre. A force of British parachutists was dropped in bright moonlight within easy distance of the objective despite enemy anti-aircraft fire. Fighter Command aircraft carried out a diversion to the operations on the ground in face of strong enemy opposition, which was not unexpected because of the known value to the enemy of this particular radio-locator. The apparatus was completely destroyed by the parachutists, who inflicted heavy casualties. After completing their tasks and carrying with them the survivors of the garrison the British troops made their way to Bruneval beach under cover of fire from light naval forces, which, had ■— .

meanwhile, approached into position. The parachutists overcame the German beach defences from the rear and embarkation was completed in good order. From this small-scale, but successful, combined operation all our aircraft returned and our casualties were very light. The naval forces were under the command of an Australian, Commander F. N. Cook, a survivor of the Royal Oak. Surprise was no unimportant factor in tlie success of the parachutists’ exploit. With faces and teeth blackened the troops were dropped from a few hundred feet. They covered nearly half a mile and had almost reached their objective before a shot was fired at them. It was only after the completion of the essential part of the operation, and when the parachutists were going to the beach, that they encountered serious opposition. The parachutists sent out a signal to the naval craft awaiting offshore, and in a few minutes were heading home across the Channel. WEEKS OF TRAINING The operation was the climax of weeks of organization and training and waiting for weather suitable for the three services. Parachutists cannot drop in a high wind, the Royal Air Force cannot find a target without good visibility, while the Navy must watch for the tide. For some days after the completion of training and rehearsals, the participants were obliged _ to wait impatiently. There was jubilation when word was passed around late on Friday afternoon, “That job’s tonight.” As the naval flotilla steamed toward France those appointed to man the landing craft blacked their faces with burnt cork. The flotilla was well within enemy waters when the landing craft, with escorts, left the mothership. Just before the party left the stirring melody, “Land of My Fathers,” sung by Welshmen, who formed a large part of the escorts, echoed through the ship. Stowed within the landing craft were guns and ammunition sufficient to deal severely with air or E-boat attackers. The parachutists were transported in Whitley bombers, whose pilots readily located the small appointed place exactly at the right time. All the parachutists landed within a few minutes. Royal Air Force support did not end there. When the returning craft were nearing England in the growing light of dawn they were given strong fighter protection. The crews of the parachutists’ aircraft visited the port to meet the returning parachutists. The crews included seven Canadian, several New Zealanders and one Australian. The parachutists were also greeted by Group Captain Sir Nigel Norman, R.A.F., commander of parachute operations. ENTIRE SUCCESS

The whole plan, which occupied a little over two hours, was entirely successful. It is revealed that when the parachutists were getting away from the beach the enemy fired down the cliffs, but was soon silenced by fire from the landing craft. While the landing craft waited the signal to go in, two German destroyers and two E-boats passed on patrol two miles distant. Each parachutist was armed with an automatic gun, a knife and four grenades. One parachutist said that the unit got away just in time. A German armoured division was stationed about 50 miles distant, and as the parachutists were leaving the beach a column of headlights was seen advancing towards Bruneval, although still some distance away. NO SECOND FRONT It is authoritatively stated that the combined operation should not in any way be confused with the opening of a second front. Only a very small party was sent for a specific purpose. GERMAN VERSION A German communique states that a number of British parachutists landed on the North French coast last night and withdrew two hours later by sea under pressure of German counter measures after raiding a weak coastal defence position.