British SAS (World War II)
TLDRThe British Special Air Service (SAS), established by David Stirling in 1941, was an elite desert raiding unit that operated covertly behind enemy lines during World War II. Initially known as the 'L' Detachment Special Air Service Brigade to deceive the Axis forces, the SAS's first mission, Operation Squatter, was unsuccessful, resulting in significant casualties. However, they achieved success in subsequent missions, notably destroying 60 enemy aircraft without losses. The SAS became renowned for their hit-and-run tactics using modified jeeps and played a pivotal role in the North African campaign, the Italian campaign, and the liberation of Europe. Paddy Mayne, a notable member, was credited with over 100 plane destructions. After the war, the SAS was disbanded but reformed in 1947, continuing to be a significant force in global conflicts.
Takeaways
- 🇬🇧 The British SAS was formed by David Stirling in 1941, designed for covert operations behind enemy lines in North Africa.
- 🏜️ The initial unit, known as the 'L' Detachment Special Air Service Brigade, was named to deceive the Axis into thinking it was larger.
- 💣 Operation Squatter, the SAS's first mission, was unsuccessful with 22 men killed or captured and no enemy aircraft destroyed.
- ✅ A subsequent mission was more successful, with the SAS destroying 60 enemy aircraft without any casualties.
- 🔥 Paddy Mayne was the most successful plane destroyer in the SAS, reportedly taking out over 100 planes.
- 🚙 Modified Jeeps, obtained through the lend-lease scheme, were used by the SAS for hit-and-run attacks on airfields and fuel dumps.
- 🔧 Jeeps were stripped down and fitted with water condensing units and heavily armed with machine guns for desert warfare.
- 🔄 By September 1942, the SAS had expanded to include four British squadrons, a special boat section, a Greek, and a Free French squadron.
- 🎖️ David Stirling, nicknamed 'Phantom Major' by the Germans, was captured in 1943 and became a POW, attempting multiple escapes.
- 🇮🇹 The SAS played a role in the Italian campaign, including operations to rescue POWs and guide them to safety.
- 🇫🇷 In 1944, the SAS supported the Normandy invasion and the French resistance, disrupting German reinforcements.
- 🇩🇪 Post-D-Day, the SAS pushed into Germany, contributing to the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and the disarmament of the German garrison in Norway.
- 🔄 The SAS was disbanded after WWII but was reformed in 1947 to continue operations in future conflicts.
Q & A
Who formed the British SAS and in what year was it established?
-The British SAS, or Special Air Service, was formed by David Stirling in 1941.
What was the original purpose of the SAS during the North African campaign in World War II?
-The original purpose of the SAS was to act as a desert raiding Airborne force unit that would secretly fight behind enemy lines in the North African campaign.
What was the name of the first unit of the SAS and why was it given this name?
-The first unit of the SAS was called the 'L' Detachment Special Air Service Brigade. This name was used to confuse the Axis into thinking it was a much larger paratrooper regiment.
What was the name of the SAS's first mission and what was its outcome?
-The first mission of the SAS was named Operation Squatter. The mission was a failure, with 22 men killed or captured and no enemy aircraft destroyed due to poor weather conditions and high enemy resistance.
How did the SAS contribute to the Axis Powers losing many planes in North Africa in 1942?
-The SAS contributed to the Axis Powers losing many planes through their covert operations and hit-and-run attacks on airfields and fuel dumps, which led to the destruction of 60 enemy aircraft without a single SAS casualty in one of their missions.
Who was the most successful plane destroyer in the SAS and how many planes did he reportedly destroy?
-The most successful plane destroyer in the SAS was Paddy Mayne, who reportedly destroyed over 100 planes.
How were the Jeeps used by the SAS modified for their specific type of attacks?
-The Jeeps used by the SAS were modified by removing the windshield and sometimes the bumpers to lower the weight, removing the radiator grille bars to aid cooling in the desert climate, and fitting a water condensing unit to the front. They were also heavily armed with combinations of Browning and Vickers K machine guns.
What was the name change for the L. Detachment SAS Brigade in September 1942?
-In September 1942, the L. Detachment SAS Brigade was renamed as the first SAS regiment.
After the German defeat in North Africa, where did the SAS turn their focus?
-After the German defeat in North Africa, the SAS turned their focus to Europe.
What happened to David Stirling, the founder of the SAS, and what was his nickname given by the Germans?
-David Stirling was captured in January 1943 and became a prisoner of war (POW). He was nicknamed 'the Phantom Major' by the Germans.
In which year was the SAS disbanded after World War II and when were they reformed?
-The SAS was disbanded at the end of World War II but was reformed again in 1947 to fight in future conflicts.
What significant actions did the SAS undertake beyond D-Day?
-Beyond D-Day, the SAS pushed into Germany, helped liberate the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, and were later sent to Norway to disarm the 300,000 strong German Garrison.
Outlines
🏺 Formation and Early Missions of the SAS
The Special Air Service (SAS) was formed by David Stirling in 1941 during World War II with the purpose of operating as a covert desert raiding force in the North African campaign. Initially called the 'L' Detachment Special Air Service Brigade, the unit aimed to deceive the enemy into thinking it was a larger paratrooper regiment. The first mission, Operation Squatter, ended in failure due to harsh weather and strong enemy resistance, resulting in casualties and no enemy aircraft destroyed. However, subsequent missions proved more successful, with the SAS destroying 60 enemy aircraft without any casualties. By September 1942, the unit was renamed the first SAS regiment, comprising British, special boat, Greek, and Free French squadrons.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Special Air Service (SAS)
💡David Stirling
💡North African Campaign
💡Operation Squatter
💡Long Range Desert Group (LRDG)
💡Axis Powers
💡Paddy Mayne
💡Jeep
💡First SAS Regiment
💡Italian Campaign
💡Operation Wallace
💡Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp
Highlights
The Special Air Service (SAS) was formed by David Stirling in 1941.
The SAS was initially intended to operate as a desert raiding airborne force unit in the North African campaign.
The first unit of SAS, known as the 'L' Detachment, was designed to mislead the Axis into thinking it was a larger paratrooper regiment.
Operation Squatter, the SAS's first mission, was a failure with 22 men killed or captured and no enemy aircraft destroyed.
The SAS achieved success in their next mission, destroying 60 enemy aircraft without a single casualty.
By 1942, the Axis Powers in North Africa were significantly losing planes due to SAS activities.
Paddy Mayne was the most successful plane destroyer in the SAS, reportedly destroying over 100 planes.
Jeeps were modified for hit-and-run attacks on Axis airfields and fuel dumps, with features like weight reduction and water condensing units.
The L Detachment SAS Brigade was renamed the first SAS regiment in September 1942, with a diverse composition of squadrons.
After the German defeat in North Africa, the SAS shifted their focus to operations in Europe.
David Stirling, known as the 'Phantom Major' by the Germans, was captured in January 1943 and became a POW.
The SAS participated in the Italian campaign, including operations to rescue POWs and guide them to safety.
In 1944, the SAS assisted in the invasion of Normandy by aiding the French resistance and disrupting German reinforcements.
Operation Wallace saw the SAS successfully push back the enemy and contribute to the end of German occupation.
Beyond D-Day, the SAS played a role in liberating the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and disarming the German garrison in Norway.
The SAS was disbanded after World War II but was reformed in 1947 to address future conflicts.
Transcripts
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