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View Full Version : Today in 1941: First-ever British parachute operation



He219
02-10-2004, 01:47 PM
http://news.mod.uk/img/pressdatabase/images/supportingImages/large/whitley_tn.jpg

On this day...... 10 February
Published Tuesday 10th February 2004 MoD (http://news.mod.uk/news_headline_story.asp?newsItem_id=1426)

1941: Two RAF Whitley bombers dropped paratroopers near the aqueduct at Tragino in Italy, in the first-ever British parachute operation, code-named Colossus. The aim was to blow up the aqueduct, largely for propaganda purposes. 38 men, of what was then named the 11th Special Air Service Battalion - the Parachute Regiment had yet to be formed - were dropped at night. One man drowned when he landed in a lake. The others succeeded in blowing up the aqueduct, but then were captured whilst they tried to make their way to the coast to be picked up by a Royal Navy submarine.


For the History Nutters
:D




Also, HMS Dreadnought launched today in 1906 ..

jamesp
02-10-2004, 02:01 PM
I watched a documentary about this mission a few months ago. After the war they found out that the navy didn't even send a submarine.

Sixgun Symphony
02-21-2004, 04:09 AM
I watched a documentary about this mission a few months ago. After the war they found out that the navy didn't even send a submarine.

That is ****ed up. The planners of this operation should have been shot.