

Only few technologies played such an important role during the WW II as a radar. By allowing the detection of enemy aircrafts - even before they could be seen - the radar often played a decisive role in air battles. No wonder that every information about German works on radars froze the blood of British leaders. When in the late 1941, the British found out that Germans invented a new radar, they started planing one of the most audacious theft in the history of WW II - a theft that would later be named as "Bruneval raid".

The last one standing

When France felt to the Nazis in June 1940, the last European country that still opposed German domination was Great Britain. Although situated on island, it could not feel safe. Survival of United Kingdom depended on British naval and air superiority.

A new invention that would later prove its enormous importance to air superiority was a radar. Since late 20s a lot of European scientists studied a possibility of detecting certain objects using radio waves. At that time, German and British works were the most advanced ones. His Majesty's Governments (HMG) appreciated the value of radar and in mid-30s it ordered building a whole system of early warning radars on the south and east coast of British Isles. This system was called “Chain Home”. It had a big impact on the allied victory in the Battle of Britain, because “Chain Home” allowed RAF to detect German airplanes before they appeared over Britain.

"Chain Home" coverage 1939–1940

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The Counterratack - British bombers over Germany

When in October 1940 allied won the Battle of Britain, RAF decided to launch a strategic bombing offensive against Germany. The goal of this offensive was to break the enemy's will and interrupt its war production.

However, since mid 1941 RAF losses started to grow rapidly. Reginald Victor Jones, officer of British Intelligence, came to a conclusion that Germans either modernized their old radars or invented way more advanced ones. Decrypted Enigma's telegrams and captured German technicians proved that Jones was right – Germans invented a new type of radar. Thanks to intercepted reports British found out that this new radar was called “Würzburg radar”.

British Halifax bomber over Germany

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Reconnaissance

Soon after, British reconnaissance aircrafts started to provide a lot of photos from northern France, in which Intelligence found few Würzburg radar stations. The new radar had a 3 metres aerial which made it look very characteristic. One of the wurzburg radars was found on a hilltop near Bruneval village, on the northern coast of France.

British intelligence decided to capture a new radar - or at least the most important parts of it - and ship them to England, where they could be examined by British scientists. That would give British an opporunity to find out what improvements Germans did that made the new radar so powerful.

In late 1941 a request to carry out a raid on Bruneval was sent to Combined Operations Headquarters (which was responsible of carrying out sabotage attacks in occupied Europe). It gained a support of supreme command and soon after Lord Mountbatten, head of Combined Ops, started making preparations.

The wurzburg radar near Bruneval

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Arrangements

Initially British wanted to carry out a seaborne commando raid, but soon they came to a conclusion that this would be too risky. Bruneval is located on a cliffed coast. British seaborne commandos would end up dead before they could even reach the high ground. Moreover the French underground resistance indicated that the coast near Bruneval was heavy fortified and often patrolled by Germans. As a result Combined Operations decided that the raid will be carried out by paratroopers.

The mission was given to newly formed 1st Airborne Division commanded by general Browning. Division's HQ chose “C” Company of 2nd Battalion for this operation. Its commander, major John Frost, was a veteran of Arab revolt in Palestine (1936-1939). There was only one problem, most of the soldiers from “C” Company joined paratroopers just few weeks ago and they had not yer finished their parachute jumping course. In order to overcome this difficulties, “C” Company was sent on an intensive courses at the beginning of January 1942.

Major John Frost - commander of "C" Company

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The plan

In the meantime French, resistance provided detailed reports about German fortifications near Bruneval and garrison guarding Würzburg radar. On this basis British developed a meticulous plan of operation.

Scale model showing the instaltion near Bruneval

Würzburg radar was located only 100 yards from the edge of a cliff near Bruneval. About 109 yards further was a villa occupied by German technicians who operated the installation. Würzburg radar was surrounded by guardposts which were manned by only 30 men. However there were additional 100 German soldiers billeted in surrounding buildings. Moreover Germans had a platoon stationed in Bruneval, who's task was to guard the coast. The beach itself was not mined, but there were a lot of German pillboxes which were located on cliffs and overlooked the beach.

Planned raid on Bruneval was named “Operation Biting”. “C” company was supposed to be be dropped on parachutes next to the installation. Then they had to secure villa, disassemble most important parts of Würzburg radar and withdraw to the evacuation beach, where they would be picked by boats of Royal Navy. In order to do so “C” Company was divided into 5 groups, each one named after famous commander of Royal Navy – Nelson, Jellicoe, Hardy, Drake and Rodney. “Nelson” would secure the evacuation beach. “Jellicoe”, “Hardy” and “Drake” would capture the villa and the “wurzburg radar”. The last group – i.e. “Rodney” - would secure flanks and prevent German counterattack.

The job of disassembling vital parts of the new radar was given to sergeant Cox – a RAF technician. Interestingly Cox was parachuted in RAF uniform, despite the fact that 1st Division insisted on giving him a paratrooper uniform – British high command kept on rejecting this requests. If Cox would be captured in RAF uniform he would immediately catch an attention of Germans, because as a technician he could be very useful for German intelligence.

Combined Operations Headquarters thought that the key to the successful operation were full moon for visibility, and a rising tide to allow the landing craft to maneuver in shallow water. Therefore “Operation Biting” was scheduled between 24 and 27 of February 1942 – period of a full moon.

Now the waiting for a best moment to carry out a raid started. On 24th of February full moon phase started. However the sky over La Manche channel was covered in clouds. Additionally heavy rains started and lasted for few days. When paratroopers thought that the operation will be canceled, the weather started to improve on 27th of February – this was the best moment for an attack.

Soldiers from "C" Company

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The raid

On the night of 27th February “C” Company embarked on A.W.38 Whitley airplanes. This air flotilla passed through La Manche channel unnoticed by Germans. Eventually, when they were over France, they got under heavy fire of German anti-air guns, but it didn't do any damage to Whitleys. Airdrop was almost 100% success – almost all of the groups were dropped in previously chosen drop zone. Only “Nelson” group, that was given mission of securing evacuation beach, missed the spot and landed about 3km from the drop zone.

After landing, “Jellicoe”, “Hardy” and “Drake” quickly started moving toward the radar station. While this movement they didn't meet any German forces. Finally the British got to the villa. Major Frost ordered to encircle it and then to open fire on it. After a short skirmish Germans stationed in villa surrendered. One of the captives told the British that there aren't many Germans in the area since most of them are stationed further inland.

The British started to disassemble Würzburg radar. But soon they found themselves under heavy fire. The shooters were Germans stationed in surrounding buildings who were alerted by the initial storm of the villa. Soon after “Rodney” group, which was guarding the rear, spotted German transporters moving toward the villa. Meanwhile major Frost still wasn't able to contact “Nelson” group. Germans started closing on a villa and surrounding the British. However, sergeant Cox soon ended disassembling Würzburg radar. In this situation major Frost, hoping that “Nelson” group already secured the beach, gave an order to withdraw to the evacuation zone.

When British arrived at clifftop at about 2:00 AM, they found out that only few men from “Nelson” group reached the shore – they were too few to secure the beach by themselves. As a result there still was a German MG which was shooting at the British as they tried to get to the beach. What's worse there were no signs of evacuation boats. At the same time Germans recaptured the villa and started shooting at “C” Company from the rear.

The British found themselves in a tragic situation. However major Frost kept his composure. He combined “Rodney” group and available men from “Nelson” group into one detachment and ordered them to secure the evacuation beach. Meanwhile he took the rest of the “C” Company and tried to storm the villa again, which ended with a success.

Meanwhile “Rodney” had huge problems with destroying German MG nest located on the beach. But soon he received unexpected help. The rest of the “Nelson” group finally arrived at the shore, bypassed MG nest and attacked it from the rear. Few minutes after that the beach was secured. At 2:45 “Nelson” group fired off an emergency signal flare, which was a signal for evacuation boats.

Map of the Operation Biting

Few minutes after that, British boats arrived at the beach. As it turned out later the boats were late, because they had to hide from the German navy patrol. When boats arrived at the shore the evacuation started.

Soldiers from "C" Company after the operation

“C” Company, carrying vital parts of Würzburg radar and two German prisoners, embarked the boats. As they left the bay there were all transferred to motor gunboats. When the news of a succesful operation reached London, 4 destroyers and few Spitfires were sent to protect the valuable loot. When the convoy arrived at the port of Portsmouth, British patriotic song – “Rule Britannia!” - was played through loudspeakers:

Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves:

Britons never will be slaves.