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Lawrence Paterson’s ground-breaking new book is a detailed account of the now legendary Operation Colossus, the first British airborne raid of the Second World War, which took place in Basilicata, Italy on 10 February 1941. Britain was one of the last major powers of the Second World War to establish an airborne arm of service. Formed by a collection of free-thinking army and air force officers, the fledgling British paratrooper unit, known as the SAS’, deployed trial and error in terms of tactics and equipment, costing the lives of several volunteers before an elite few were selected to make the first British parachute raid of the war. Alongside the paratroopers were two veterans of the First World War: an Italian SOE agent, formerly a banqueting manager in London hotels, and an RAF reserve officer who held the Military Cross for bravery. Collectively known as X-Troop’, these men were parachuted by specially selected bomber crews into the heart of enemy territory, where they successfully destroyed their target, the Tragino Aqueduct, before becoming the object of an exhaustive manhunt by Italian troops and civilians. Captured, they were variously interrogated, imprisoned, and the Italian SOE agent placed on trial for treason and executed. Given the distances that had to be covered, the logistical complications and the lack of any precedent, the raid was a remarkable feat. Its success or failure depended on a group of men using methods and equipment thus far untried by the British Army. They were truly guinea pigs’ for those that would follow in their footsteps. Often overlooked in British military history, Paterson brings this extraordinary episode to light, drawing on verbatim testimony and interrogating the truth of previous accounts. From the formation of the unit and the build up to its first deployment, through Operation Colossus and its aftermath, to its ongoing legacy today, this is the fascinating story of the modern-day British Parachute Regiment.

Reviews

“…this story will remind readers of the consequences of inadequate mission planning and command and– control shortcomings. Furthermore, detailed accounts of the British paratroopers’ actions after the attack on the aqueduct should fascinate those seriously interested in survival, evasion, resistance, and escape (SERE).”– “Air Power History”

“[The author’s] coverage of the formation of the first airborne units in England is worth the read by itself. “– “IPMS/USA”

“The actual raid is well written with all the flash and dash of typical commando warfare, along with the realities of weather, timing, and other frictions of war.”– “Historical Miniatures Gaming Society”

“…provides an excellent overview of the development of parachute troops as well as an exciting battle narrative and gripping human interest story about men daring to strike a blow in the face of long odds. The book contains sufficient detail that knowledgeable readers will most likely learn something new, while readers new to reading about the war will not feel overwhelmed by jargon.”– “Argunners Magazine”

Lawrence Paterson has written several books on various aspects of the U-boat war, including U-Boat War Patrol, Weapons of Desperation, Donitz’s Last

Gamble, Hitler’s Grey Wolves and a new biography of Otto Kretschmer. He lives in Taranto, Italy and is drummer in a heavy metal band.