Operation Biting
- ISBN #9780008642174
- Max Hastings
- Paperback
- Ships in 3-10 days
- Ships in 3-10 days
Operation Biting
- ISBN #9780008642174
- Max Hastings
- Paperback
- Ships in 3-10 days
- Ships in 3-10 days
$34.77 ex GST
- Product Details
- Delivery & Returns
-
Operation Biting was one of the most thrilling British commando raids of World War II, and probably the most successful. In 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. Max 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. Recounted in Hastings' familiar blend of top-down and bottom-up action detail, Operation Biting tells a story that has become almost forgotten yet deserves to rank among the epic tales of courage and daring that took place in the greatest conflict in history.
- Format: Paperback / softback
- Publication Date: 05/06/2024
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
- Country of Origin: United Kingdom
- Pages: 384
- Dimensions (mm): 234x153x33mm
- Weight: 280g
-
There is no Handling & Delivery cost for orders over $50 ex GST unless there are large items in your order.
Orders under $50 (ex GST) & excluding Gift Card only orders :
$6.00 ex GST ($6.90 incl GST)
Surcharge for Rural Delivery addresses $3.13 ex GST ($3.60 incl GST) for orders under $50 ex GST
Orders with only Gift cards under $50 are charged $2.52 ex GST ($2.90 incl GST)There is no Handling & Delivery cost for eGift card orders.
Charges for Large or Bulky items . These are indicated by the Large item icon.
Regardless of total order value: first unit $8.70 ex GST ( $10 incl GST), then every subsequent unit $4.35 ex GST ($5 incl GST)Read more about Delivery Information
Read our Returns and Exchanges Policy
-
Product Details
Operation Biting was one of the most thrilling British commando raids of World War II, and probably the most successful. In 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. Max 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. Recounted in Hastings' familiar blend of top-down and bottom-up action detail, Operation Biting tells a story that has become almost forgotten yet deserves to rank among the epic tales of courage and daring that took place in the greatest conflict in history.
- Format: Paperback / softback
- Publication Date: 05/06/2024
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
- Country of Origin: United Kingdom
- Pages: 384
- Dimensions (mm): 234x153x33mm
- Weight: 280g
- Delivery & Returns