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Raiders

Page 25

by Ross Kemp


  Tovey praises 96

  Helberg, Claus 136–44, 150–4, 156, 159–65 passim, 166

  escape of 172–7

  honours for 184

  missing 166, 167

  oedema suffered by 150

  see also Operation Gunnerside; Operation Swallow; Vemork

  Henderson, Lt 235, 236

  Herdla 63, 76, 77, 84, 85

  Hill, Flt Lt Tony 103

  Hitler, Adolf 268

  resources concentrated on east and south by 57

  summary-execution order of ix, 149

  troops sent to safeguard Norway by 97–8

  HMS Atherstone 187–8, 209, 211, 213, 234

  HMS Berwick 31

  HMS Campbeltown:

  conversion of 202

  explosion aboard 238–9

  former role of 202

  role of, in Operation Chariot, see Operation Chariot

  HMS Chiddingfold 62, 69, 73

  Anhalt pursued by 85–6

  HMS Eagle 6

  withdrawal of 12

  HMS Gallant, mine hits 46

  HMS Hood 193

  HMS Illustrious 7, 10, 12, 14–15, 15–16, 17–18

  aviation fuel tanks on, contamination of 17

  fire in hangar of 11–12

  first flight takes off from 18–22

  Germans bomb 47–50

  Germans’ bombing survived by 50–1

  Germans’ second bombing of 51–2

  Germans target 45–6, 51

  Italians seek revenge on 39

  praise for 44

  second flight takes off from 30–1

  see also Operation Judgement

  HMS Juno 50

  HMS Kelly 67

  HMS Kenya 55–6, 70, 71, 73

  beached Anhalt destroyed by 93

  designated operational HQ 62

  holed 87

  Mountbatten boards 67

  HMS Offa 62, 70

  Donna pursued by 85

  HMS Onslow 62, 70, 77–8, 79

  HMS Oribi 62, 70, 73, 77, 78, 79

  HMS Prince Albert 106, 125

  HMS Prince Charles 62, 66–7, 69

  HMS Prince Leopold 62, 66–7, 69

  HMS Royal Oak 109

  HMS Sturgeon 213

  HMS Tuna 55, 62, 67

  HMS Tynedale 187–8, 209, 210–11, 213, 234

  HMS Warspite 3, 38, 272

  Hobbs, Staff Sgt 259

  Hooper, Lt 261

  Howard, Maj. John 243–9, 251–2, 254, 255–7, 260, 263–7 passim, 269–70, 274–5, 276–8 passim

  film version of 272

  knocked unconscious 259

  worst feared by 261

  Howard, Joy 249

  Humphreys Lt Pat 29

  Hydro 181–3

  Idland, Kasper 148–50, 160–5 passim, 167

  honours for 184

  return of, after sabotage 168–71

  see also Operation Gunnerside; Vemork

  Italian Air Force 11

  flying boats of 13

  Italy:

  Balkans invaded by 45

  Greece invaded by 14–15, 45

  new ships of 2

  and Operation Judgement, see Operation Judgement

  see also Taranto

  Jago, Lt Cdr Jackie 49

  Jaguar 235–6

  Janvrin (airman) 23, 28

  Japanese Navy, Pearl Harbor attack planned by 44

  Jones, Sub-Lt 33

  Jones, Reginald 102–3, 128–9

  honours for 127

  Jutland, Battle of 53

  Kabbo Point 18

  Kayser, Fredrik 148–50, 160–5 passim, 167

  honours for 184

  return of, after sabotage 168–71

  see also Operation Gunnerside; Vemork

  Kemp, Lt Neil 24, 26, 41

  killed 49

  Keyes, Adm. 59

  Kiggell (airman) 23, 28

  Kindersley, Brig. Hugh 243, 274

  Kjelstrup, Arne 137–44, 150–4, 156, 160–5 passim, 167

  honours for 184

  oedema suffered by 150

  see also Operation Gunnerside; Operation Swallow; Vemork

  Komrower, Lt 73–4, 80

  Krebs 59

  Kristiansen, Kristian 156

  Lamb, Lt Charles 23, 24, 28–9, 46, 49–50

  Lambe, Charles 195

  Lancastria, see RMS Lancastria

  Larsen, Alf 182–3

  Le Presbytière 111, 119

  Lea, Lt 33, 42

  Libeccio 28

  Linge, Capt. Martin 62, 74, 79

  company named after 137

  killed 81–2, 95

  Littorio 26–7, 32, 40, 41, 44–5

  Loch Fyne 106

  Lofoten Islands 58, 61

  Longest Day, The 272

  Longmore, Air Marshal, Taranto air-attack planning of 11

  Lovat, Lord 273, 277

  Luck, Col. Hans von 252, 267–8, 275

  Luddington, William 49

  Luftwaffe:

  British cities bombed by viii, 44

  Illustrious bombed by, see under HMS Illustrious

  Italian invasion of Greece aided by 45

  Norway attacks of 5

  RAF’s thrashing of 18

  Lyster, R/Adm. 10, 30, 35, 45

  Taranto air-attack planning of 10–11

  third strike ruled out by 37–8

  Maaloy 61

  Macauley, Sub-Lt Douglas 26

  Malta 3, 4, 14, 52

  Manhattan Project, see under USA

  Mar Grande 13, 31

  Mar Piccolo 13, 27, 35, 42

  Maund, Lt Michael 27

  Mecke, Kapitän zur See Karl-Conrad 189

  Mediterranean Fleet 13, 38, 43, 45

  Cinderella service 2

  depleted resources of 3

  Millin, Bill 277

  Milorg 173

  Montgomery, Capt. Bob 198

  Morford Lt 30–1

  Møsvatn Dam 135, 138

  Mountbatten, Lord Louis 200, 201–2

  appointed Director of Combined Operations 195

  Archery a coup for 96

  Biting men visited by 106

  Frost greeted by 126

  Kenya boarded by 67

  Keyes replaced by 59–60

  Murray (airman) 28

  Mussolini, Benito (‘Il Duce’) 45

  Mediterranean ‘claimed’ by 2

  war on Britain declared by 1

  Nagel, Peter (a.k.a. Pte Newman) 108, 127

  National Archives, Kew 97, 172, 184

  Nelson, Adm. Viscount Horatio 6, 10, 53

  Newman, Lt Col. Charles 187–8, 196–7, 212, 219, 225, 230–1, 237

  honours for 240

  mission’s nature divulged by 206

  taken prisoner 232–3

  Newman, Pte, see Nagel, Peter

  Nile, Battle of 6

  Nock, Lt 228

  Norman, Grp Capt. Sir Nigel 101

  Normandy landings 247, 250

  glider pilots a precious asset in 253

  Operation Deadstick’s part in, see Operation Deadstick

  Norway:

  coastline of 9, 61

  heavy-water sabotage in, see Operation Gunnerside; Vemork

  help needed by 2

  Hitler seeks to safeguard 97–8

  Lofoten Islands 58, 61

  and Operation Archery, see Operation Archery

  and Operation Gunnerside, see Operation Gunnerside

  perilous waters of 55–6

  puppet ruler in 63

  Vaagso, see Vaagso

  see also Operation Archery

  Norwegian campaign 5, 9

  Norwegian Free Forces 91

  Norwegian Independent Company 137

  Norwegian Resistance 134, 137

  O’Flaherty, Lt Denis 88–9

  Old Mole 199, 212, 216, 220, 222, 223, 225–8 passim

  Operation Anklet 61, 65–6

  failure of 97

  Operation A
rchery 54–98

  British casualties during 74, 80, 81, 82, 83, 86, 95

  Commandos’ intensive training for 64

  communications problems during 76–7

  final objectives of 63

  first major incursion since Dunkirk 66

  greater significance of 97

  planning brief of 61

  postponement of 67

  prisoners taken during 94

  stormy start to 66–7

  Tovey praises 96

  vital combat experience given by 95

  see also Vaagso

  Operation Biting 99–130

  bombers take off for 113–14

  British casualties during 122

  code names of groups within 107

  cover story for 104

  diversion raids during 112, 114

  ‘Drake’ group in 112, 117, 121

  final rehearsal for 110

  French Resistance aid 110–11

  Frost reveals object of 100–1

  intensive training for 105–6, 109–10

  Navy’s lateness in 122–3

  Navy’s lateness in, explained 124

  ‘Nelson’ group in 112–13, 114, 117–18, 121

  objective achieved in 122

  paratroopers chosen for 104

  paratroopers drop over Bruneval in 115–16

  postponements of 99–100

  request for volunteers for 107

  ‘Rodney’ group in 113, 121

  veiled in secrecy 100

  see also Bruneval; Würzburg

  Operation Chariot 186–240

  ‘all hell was let loose’ 191

  assembly of raiding force for 205

  British casualties during 215, 216, 218–19, 220, 224–9 passim, 236, 239

  cover story for 205–6

  critical moment of 191

  dress rehearsal for 208

  flotilla decided on for 203–4

  honours for 239–40

  loss of life expected in 194

  main objective of 195

  prisoners taken during 232–3, 234

  RAF a reluctant partner in 194

  Operation Claymore 58–9

  Operation Deadstick 241–78

  British casualties during 260, 266, 273, 276, 277

  Howard briefs officers and men for 246–7

  postponement of 249

  Operation Excess 45

  Operation Freshman 144–7

  British casualties during 145–7

  Operation Grouse 136–44, 145, 147

  name change of, to Swallow (q.v.) 147

  snowstorm hampers 141

  see also Operation Gunnerside

  Operation Gunnerside 132, 147, 153–77 passim

  Grouse and Freshman precede, see Operation Freshman; Operation Grouse

  Helberg’s remarkable escape following 172–7

  honours following 184–5

  objective of 147

  postponement of 153–4

  rough plan of 136

  see also Vemork

  Operation Judgement 1–53

  aircraft damage during 36–7

  aircraft lost in 19

  British casualties after, see HMS Illustrious: Germans bomb

  British casualties during 32

  broad outline of 11

  Churchill’s Commons address after 42–3

  code name of 15

  Cunningham’s lukewarm congratulations concerning 38, 52–3

  Cunningham’s ultimate praise for 39

  daily sorties during early stages of 16

  faulty bombs used in 35

  Illustrious bombed after, see under HMS Illustrious

  Italian casualties during 41

  Italians seek revenge for 39

  medals awarded for 52–3

  most junior pilots in 28

  postponements of 12

  radio and telegraphy silence observed in 19–20, 31, 35–6

  torpedoes and bombs dropped by, numbered 41

  see also HMS Illustrious; Taranto

  Operation Swallow 149, 150–4, 172, 180

  Operation Grouse (q.v.) renamed as 147

  reindeer feast of 152

  see also Operation Gunnerside

  Paine (airman) 28

  Pantelleria 46

  Patch, Ollie 27, 29

  Paul, Capt. Lt Friedrich 235, 236, 237

  Pegasus Bridge 278

  Pickard, Wg Cdr Charles 101, 108–9, 113, 115, 125

  honours for 127

  killed 127

  Pine-Coffin, Lt Col. Geoffrey 270–1, 275, 276

  Platt, Lt 225

  Poett, Brig. Nigel 251–2, 255, 265–6, 270, 274–5

  Pollock, Lt David 16

  Portal, Air Chf Mshl Sir Charles 126

  Poulsson, Jens Anton 136–44, 150–4, 160–5 passim, 167, 173

  honours for 184

  see also Operation Gunnerside; Operation Swallow; Vemork

  Pound, Adm. Sir Dudley 5–6, 11, 44, 126

  Priday, Brian 256, 261

  Prince Philippe 200

  Princess Josephine Charlotte 205

  Pritchard, Capt. Bill 198, 226, 227

  Purdon, Lt 223–4, 232

  Quisling, Vidkun 63

  RAF’s rivalry with, RAF’s rivalry with 16

  Ragsundo 87

  Ramsey, Sgt 83

  Rediess, Gen. Wilhelm 166

  Regia Aeronautica, see Italian Air Force

  Renault, Gilbert (‘Col. Rémy’) 110, 127

  Riccardi, Adm. 4, 40

  River Orne, British assault on bridge of, see Operation Deadstick

  RMS Lancastria 188

  Roderick, Lt 221

  Rodier, Lt 219, 225, 229

  Rommel, Fld Mshl Erwin 45, 52, 248, 268

  Rønneberg, Joachim 148–9, 155, 157, 158, 159, 160–5 passim, 167, 168–72

  honours for 184

  return of, after sabotage 168–71

  see also Operation Gunnerside; Vemork

  Roosevelt, Franklin D.:

  Churchill meets 134

  Gunnerside monitored by 132

  Illustrious praised by 52

  Ross, Capt. John 120

  Roy, Capt. 221–2, 224–5

  Royal Air Force (RAF):

  1st Airborne Division of, chosen for Bruneval operation 104

  1st Airborne Division of, Churchill’s wish to create 116

  growing short of pilots 52

  Luftwaffe thrashed by 18

  Navy’s rivalry with 16

  and Operation Archery, crucial to outcome of 63

  over Vaagso 76

  photographic reconnaissance aircraft of 16, 35, 38, 42, 84, 103–4, 111, 128–9, 252

  reconnaissance photos stolen from 16–17

  reluctant partner in St Nazaire operation 194

  Scottish bases of 60

  see also individual operations by name

  Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) 62, 75

  Royal Navy:

  Alexandria adopted by 3

  ammunition shortage of 3

  formidable reputation of 4

  ‘never refuses action’ 10

  in Norwegian campaign 5

  USA gives Buchanan to 202

  see also individual operations by name

  Rugsundo 68, 71, 73

  Ryder, Cdr Robert 187–8, 200–1, 203, 207, 212–13, 219, 227

  dispatch of 229–30

  honours for 240

  St Nazaire:

  apocalyptic vision in 233

  Campbeltown’s explosion in 238–9

  detailed model of 206–7

  guns protecting 205

  operation to destroy, see Operation Chariot

  San Pietro 14, 31

  Sarra, Sub-Lt 27–8

  Savage, AB Bill 230

  honours for 240

  Scapa Flow 64, 66, 94

  Scarlett, Lt Norman (‘Blood’) 21, 25–6

  captured 26

  mentioned in dispatches 40


  POW 39–40

  Schmidt, Maj. Hans 251, 267

  Sharp, Sgt 121

  Sicily 45

  Singapore 3

  Skelton, Lt 31

  Skinnarland, Einar 138, 167, 168, 177, 180–1, 184

  honours for 185

  Slaughter, Lt 40

  Slaughter, Lt 32

  Smalley, Lt 220, 225

  Smith, Lt ‘Sandy’ 244, 260, 262–3, 271

  Sohler, Capt. Lt Herbert 214

  Sørlie, Rolf 182–3

  Sparke, Sub-Lt Julian 26

  killed 52

  Special Operations Executive (SOE):

  ‘Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’ 136

  purpose of 135

  and Vemork, see Operation Gunnerside; Vemork

  Special Service Brigade:

  formation of 57

  in Normandy landings 273

  SS Anhalt 85–6

  Kenya destroys 93

  SS Eismeer 78

  SS Normar 78

  SS Reimar Edzard Fritzen 78

  Stavanger 63, 77

  Storhaug, Hans 148–50, 160–5 passim, 167

  honours for 184

  return of, after sabotage 168–71

  see also Operation Gunnerside; Vemork

  Strachan, CSM 108, 120–1, 126–7

  honours for 127

  promoted 127

  Straits of Otranto 16

  Strømsheim, Birger 148–50, 160–5 passim, 167

  honours for 184

  return of, after sabotage 168–71

  see also Operation Gunnerside; Vemork

  Sueter, R/Adm. Sir Murray 53

  Suez Canal 52

  Sullom Voe 66

  Sumburgh 63

  Sutton, Lt Alfie 33

  Swayne, Lt 22, 26, 236

  Sweeney, Lt ‘Tod’ 261, 266–7

  Sword Beach 242, 277

  Tappenden, L/Cpl Ted 261, 265, 266

  Taranto:

  daily sorties in countdown to raid on 16

  flares dropped on 23–4

  huge Italian fleet at 6

  Illustrious aircraft reach 23

  Italians assess damage to 38, 40

  layered defences of 10, 13–14

  Lyster rules out third strike on 37–8

  obvious Italian fleet location 13

  raid on 24–39

  salvage work in 40

  torpedoes and bombs dropped by, numbered 41

  see also Operation Judgement

  Taylor, Maj. Nigel 273

  Terboven, Josef 166, 168, 175, 176

  Thornton, Sgt ‘Wagger’ 269

  Tibbits, Lt Nigel 186, 215, 229

  Tilshead barracks 100, 104

  practice parachute drop at 106

  Times, Taranto attack covered by 44

  Timothy, Lt 113, 120, 122

  Tirpitz 192–3, 195, 221, 222, 239

  sunk 240

  Todd, Lt Richard 272, 274

  Torrens-Spence Lt Michael 30, 32–3, 41, 46

  Illustrious bombing survived by 47

  Tovey, Sir John 96

  Trafalgar, Battle of 53

  Trento 35

  Trondheim 77

  Tronstad, Prof. Leif 149–50, 162

  U-boats 2, 188, 191–2, 210–11

  Ulvesund 65, 73, 77, 79

  Ulvesund Hotel 79, 81, 82–3, 92, 95

  destruction of 95

 

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