Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Operation Biting

During World War II, Operation Biting was a Combined Operations raid to capture components of a German Wurzburg radar set at Bruneval, France, on 27/28 February, 1942.

This was the first raid for the 1st Parachute Brigade, conducted by 120 men of C Company, 2nd Battalion, with men of No.12 Commando providing protection during the Naval evacuation stage.

The paratroops were dropped in three groups together with a RAF radar expert responsible for identifying and removing the required parts.

The radar components seized, evacuation by landing craft became protracted under considerable enemy fire which No.12 Commando countered for an hour. It was later discovered the Royal Navy flotilla had been playing 'cat-and-mouse' with a German force of a Destroyer and E-boats who passed within a mile of the landing.

During the operation two British were killed and six captured. Two Germans were captured, one of whom was the Wurzburg's operator who provided a great deal of classified information.