{"product_id":"operation-biting-the-1942-parachute-assault-to-capture-hitlers-radar","title":"Operation Biting: The 1942 Parachute Assault to Capture Hitler's Radar","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOperation Biting was one of the most thrilling British commando raids of World War II, and probably the most successful.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn February 1942 RAF intelligence was baffled by a newly-identified radar network on the coast of Nazi-occupied Europe, codenamed Wurzburg. The brilliant scientist Dr RV Jones proposed an assault to capture key components. The nearest accessible enemy set stood upon a steep cliff at Bruneval in Normandy. Winston Churchill enthused, as did Lord Louis Mountbatten, chief of Combined Operations. A company of the newly-formed Airborne Forces was committed to the operation, which took place on the night of 27\/28 February. Amid heavy snow 120 men landed, some of whom were misdropped almost two miles from their objective. They nonetheless launched the assault, dismantled the German radar, and after three nail-biting hours in France and a fierce battle with Wehrmacht defenders, escaped in the nick of time by landing-craft across stormy seas to Portsmouth.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMax Hastings recounts this cliffhanging tale in a wealth of previously unchronicled detail. He portrays its remarkable personalities: the 'boffin' RV Jones; the peacock Mountbatten; the troubled husband of Daphne Du Maurier, Gen. 'Boy' Browning, who commanded the Airborne Division; 'Colonel Remy', the French secret agent whose men reconnoitered Bruneval at mortal risk; Major John Frost, who led the paras into action; Charlie Cox, the little RAF technician who stripped the Wurzburg and became an unexpected hero; Wing-Commander Charles Pickard, a legendary bomber pilot who led the drop squadron. Seldom have so many fascinating personalities been brought together to fulfil a mission that became a front-page triumph in a season of British defeats.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistory and Archaeology, Society and Social Sciences\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaperback\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMax Hastings\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e384 pages\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eH: 234mm W: 153mm Spine: 33mm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeight: 280 grams\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"William Collins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43670977904790,"sku":"9780008642174","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0587\/4978\/0118\/files\/jacket---2024-05-23T165231-656.jpg?v=1716440027","url":"https:\/\/www.tawabooksandpost.co.nz\/products\/operation-biting-the-1942-parachute-assault-to-capture-hitlers-radar","provider":"Tawa Books \u0026 Post","version":"1.0","type":"link"}