How One Raid Changed The Course Of The War! (Operation Biting)
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- Опубліковано 22 тра 2024
- In December 1941, a daring recon mission skimmed the French coast. A Spitfire, its camera locked on target, captured the image of a mysterious device that would send shivers down the spines of Allied commanders. This single photograph ignited a sequence of events leading to one of the most audacious raids of World War II: Operation Biting, also known as the Bruneval Raid.
Join us on a journey through history, where veterans' firsthand accounts, original wartime footage, and cutting-edge technology bring the Bruneval Raid to life.
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Written References:
General Sources:
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Credits:
Research: Dan Hill
Script & Narration: Dan Hill
Editing: Shane Greer
Thumbnail Design: Linus Klassen
Music & Sound Effects: Shane Greer
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My father was one of the pilots of the Whitleys that dropped the parachutists. He didn't return to New Zealand from the war. I was just over a year old when the Bruneval raid took place.
My Dad's friend was a tail gunner on Whitleys. We are also kiwis. He became a mechanic with the NZ Forrest service after the war. Was an alcoholic by all reports. I'm a professional pilot, and I think of these men sometimes and what they gave up. Bless them all, including your father.
That is a sad and amazing story in one. Your dad was a hero and you can be proud of him. Leaving his family to travel across the world and risk and even give his life to fight for freedom, that is the ultimate sacrifice. Sorry that you did not have the chance to grow up with him around.
:'(
Nana's brother, also a Kiwi pilot, didn’t return from the War. A mechanic didn't properly secure his propeller so he crashed shortly after take off in Tunisia. Saved his crew.
The RAF aircraftsman who accompanied the paras was Charlie Cox who came from Wisbech Cambridgeshire after the war he set up a little electrical shop selling electrical goods and spares. His son married my late mother's cousin, he never really talked about it! But that's common with that generation, he always said he was only doing the job he'd trained for. Most unassuming
Thanks for the comment and sharing your story!
Charlie was a lovely fella. His daughter is my aunt, having married my father's brother. He could repair literally anything
Was lucky enough to jump at the 3oth anniversary of the raid, after the drop we had a briefing from General Frost himself, an amazing chap!
Very nice
@@kevindorland738 It was a great experience! now we struggle to find 4 aircraft for D Day 80!
I was privileged to jump at the 71st anniversary (the 70th we were fogged in) we used a civilian aircraft & round canopies the wind was very high, I was concussed and spent the night in Le Havre General! But what a DZ to drop I could see all the features described on the way down… 😮
@@nucleargaz1 Bad luck but if you can't take a joke you shouldn't have joined lol. We had a whole battalion drop, must have been at least 9 Hercs now I read we can only find 1 A400 for the D Day 80! God help our country, even the Labour Party spent more on defence than the Conservatives!
@@johnallen7807 Labour ALWAYS spend more on defence than the Conservatives.
The raid may have been a small raid but the dividends where mind changing. It was one of those raids that made a difference to D-day and the the RAF amd US airforce day and night raids. Brave men thank you for your service.
Thank you for your comment!
Superb production, gentlemen! All honor to Pvt. Scott & Pvt. McIntyre who gave their lives for our freedom.
We are glad you enjoyed the video!
Incredibly brave men. As were all men and women who fought for freedom. My heart was racing watching this video. Thank you. As a son of a CSM in the Canadian Airborne who dropped into occupied France one Day and fought and survived the entire war it makes me even more proud of all those paratroopers!
Great post Sir & what a heritage!
Did you know that Charlie Cox because of his knowledge of British microwave technology was escorted by two men who were under strict instruction to shoot him if there was a possibility he was about to be captured. He was told they would be his personal body guards and help him dismantle the radar unit. Some months later he learnt what his 'friends' true mission orders were and was shocked to think there was no POW option and if he had known this he would never have volunteered.
Great fact... thanks for sharing!
yea in his autobiography RV jones told this piece and when he met Sgt cox 6 months later expressed shock to see him alive then told him about the orders he did not tell us what Sgt Cox's reaction was,
Never trust the government.
The Navajo code talkers were under the same threat. Gary Powers, flying a U2 spy plane over Russia had an eject button that he knew was actually a destruct button. Instead of ejecting when he was hit, he crawled out on the wing and jumped, manually opening his chute. Imagine being in a position that you had to shoot one of your own men, who probably you knew personally. Men had HUGE gonads back then.
The parachute regiment called by the Germans the red devils. This regiment showed the yanks the way to go in parachute warfare. Also the British commandos showed the American ranger battalion regiments how to do it. The American rangers trained in Scotland with the British commandos.
For the closing moments of the video, it would have been worth mentioning John Frost. He was leading the 1st Airbourne Division Spearhead at Arnhem until eventually the Paras ran out of ammunition and after 4 days of fighting he had to surrender spending the next 6 months in a POW camp until liberated by the Americans in March 1945
Hi, interesting point, we actually didd have that in at the end but took it out as it was getting a bit long-winded. Arnhem vid coming soon though!
He was actually leading 2 Para , only battalion to reach the bridge and wait in vain for ground forces to arrive from Nijmegen….hence the “bridge too far.”
Col. John Frost is a true hero and was portrayed by Anthony Hopkins in the film A Bridge Too Far
Nowadays there is a bridge over the Rhine in Arnhem, called John Frost Bridge.
For that he had a bridge named after him in Arnhem.
If you're interested in this raid, go read the book about it: "Green Beach" by James Leasor. Flt Sgt Cox was provided with a "bodyguard" squad of 4 men to protect him during the raid. The book mentions that the "bodyguard" were also given secret orders to shoot Cox to prevent him from falling into German hands!!
Fabulous show! Big admirer of the Bruneval raid. Frost actually commanded the 2nd Para Battalion at the Arnhem bridgehead of Operation Market Garden. An amazing individual.
Met Professor Jones in the late 1970’s when I was a student , he gave me loads of information on the different aspects of the electronic measures and counter measures employed by him and other scientists during the war. Very interesting man ended up discussing with him for over two hours. Window, H2S , the Ju 88 night fighter that landed at Dyce airport complete with an advanced aerial radar system. Brilliant man, wish I could remember more.
Me too. University of Aberdeen?
The BBC had electronic television from Alexander Palace in 1936. Service was shut down for the duration. The transmitters were turned on again to jam German navigation beams. It was like instrument landing but pointing at the bombing targets. The BBC transmitter made it useless. Churchill called it 'Wizard War".
The radar that can be seen in the picture(2:11) in front of the house is a “Würzburg” radar. It was named after the city of Würzburg, as the head of Telefunken radar development, Wilhelm Runge, preferred cities as code names (see also "Lichtenstein" radar). And Telefunken was the manufacturer of this type of radar. The “Würzburg” C variant is the exact one.
I was particularly impressed how you cleverly incorporated the sponsor into your video - very unintrusive and quite natural to the storyline. Well thought out and well done! I always look forward to your videos and this unique technique has made them even more informative of our elders' history.
Glad you liked it!
I agree, it’s actually factually worth watching and entirely relevant to the story. Symbiotic advertisement at its best 👍🏼
I mean, they have to advance their revenue past ad blockers somehow but sure.
@@BattleGuideVT Most appreciated and likely to be remembered.
6 men left behind!!! Holy crap. Never heard of this raid before, excellent job.
Fascinating. I thought I'd heard or read of every important raid etc in WW2 but this is the first time I've seen this one explained.
Well done, thanks for posting!
Thanks, glad you liked it!
20+ years ago, I was on vacation in Como Italy.
I met an old man, a German, named Arno.
Arno was one of the 'radar technicians' captured in this raid.
His details about the capture, the interrogation, the POW experience, and his postwar life were enough to convince me that he was the real deal.
That may be Arno at 12:22.
Thanks for the comment and sharing your story!
What made him talk?
Dan, what a tale this one is, absolutely amazing
We are glad you enjoyed the video!
That was fascinating.
Thank you guys RIP♥ 🇬🇧
Excellent video
Great video! Excellent narration by Dan. The maps, photos, and modern day shots of the beach are all very helpful. I hadn't heard of this raid, but learned a lot. Good discussion of the impact of the raid as well. Superb work! Awesome video, Battle Guide :).
Many thanks!
It seems that the radio problems didn't end there for Frost
Yeah Frost and radios didnt mix in WW2!
As an ex RN serviceman I quickly learned that the new generation carried the responsibility of being a part of a great and proud history.
I was always mindful of not letting the memory down.
Just wanna say, I’ve watched a few of your videos now, and they’re banging . I like your style and the use of satellite images. Keep em coming mate
Awesome, thank you!
@@BattleGuideVTJust a small note … I think you meant Le Hague not Le Havre on that map. Otherwise, awesome & thanks!
@@hernanv.2526 are you sure?
@@BattleGuideVT Google Maps: Le Havre is Southwest of Saint-Jouin-Bruneval where the Memorial is. La Hague is West of Bruneval & both are on the Cotentin peninsula. Perhaps using Saint-Jouin-Bruneval would help clarify things on your map then.
Must admit I had not previously heard of this raid. Now I have. Now I pretty much know everything. 👍
There is a fictionalized account of this raid published in 1953, Radar Commandos by Bernard Glemser. I read it in high school back in the 70's and its been one of my all-time favorite books.
Mine too. I bought the paperback in 4th grade from the bookmobile that visited my school. No mention of the French boy(Paul?) from the village who was transported to Great Britain and then went on the raid and guided the British troops in his village.
i read about it from a pulp war magazine when i was 8yo when the movie "a bridge to far" came out and i heard the name Johnny Frost and his group taking one end of the bridge at Arnhem. i was humbled.
then found out a young lady member of the Dutch resistance helped as a runner her name?
Audrey Hepburn
really great story telling ! I love commandos raids videos
Glad you like them!
@@BattleGuideVT The Campbell (I think) crashing the old destroyer in the dock gates. St Naziar I think. That was a remarkable raid. Navel and commandos they all knew there was a good chance they may not return home.
Just brilliant
I am sure there is a black and white film about this raid, well worth a watch. Big thanks to BG for this very interesting video on some of the unsung hero's of our armed forces.
I have never seen such a remarkable, visually detailed historical account. Well done!
Excellent research, narration and pertinent photos, maps, diary entries.
Except for that map at 0:56 .
It's a wrong map for they year discussed. You can tell by the shape of Poland - nowadays map.
A bit unfair as well to put a nazi symbol on modern days Germany. 😉
But other than that - I agree with you; very good content.👍
@@pluki1357 🤗 it took the smart Pole to catch the map detail. 😉 The world bends its knee to the historical intelligence of the Polish people, who used Latin as their parliamentary language until at least until 1939.
Fantastic video. Thank you so much for making it.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Rather negligent of the Germans to leave such an important and technologically advanced piece of equipment so blatantly exposed and with no attempt to camouflage or disguise it!
Or defended it properly.
At this point they had steamrolled everyone they attacked aside from the British islands. They were overconfident and assumed it was only a matter of time before Britain fell, too.
Just goes to show that the Germans were not the infallible military machine that the wehraboos would have you believe.
Of course, they had no idea they would be attacked by a determined and very capable raiding force, either.
@@negativeindustrial plus, there wasn’t the same technology of today. I think the brits won at the lottery snapping that pic.
German hubris.
Great job UA-cam team as always
Appreciate it!
Turned out the German's Wurzberg radar transmitted in the 50cm UHF band, which had far lower signal:noise ratio discriminationhan than the new British cavity magnatron transmitter, which operated in the 3cm microwave band.
Epic knowledge!
@@BattleGuideVT But incorrect 50 cm was best Germans could do. radar discrimination much better at 10 cm the whole point of the raid was to obtain German Equipment and copy it( Type 11) Then if Germans jammed the frequency they jammed themselves.. Type 11 refurbished sent to Cyprus for Suez
As always this is a superbly researched and crafted video. What a daring raid by some of our finest. So sorry that we’ve let things slide so badly.
Have you covered the 1942 Dieppe Raid? One book on it is titled Green Beach, code name of the mission the Dieppe Raid was cover for - a raid to steal the components of a coastal German radar installation. The Dieppe Raid is usually described as a disastrous attack attempt on the port of Dieppe France, a failed amphibious invasion, but in reality it was a diversion to enable the real mission, which succeeded.
Excellent content. Thank you for the well researched production.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Incredible story❤
Amazing!! Thank You for sharing this piece of history I never heard of. Such very brave men.
Awesome clip, fantastically explained. Understand with more clarity. Well done
I have just stumbled on this video, and it's gripping and brilliantly well done thanks!
Excellent mini documentary, many thanks for making this.
Great video. Super pictures, great narration and love the 3-d-ish additions. Thank You!!
U guys deserve a million subs at least.
Nice video, the 3D map really helped. I never knew 6 guys got left behind. I wonder how that happened.
Brilliant doc, very nicely told.
Excellent video.
First time hearing of this thanks for bringing another mission from the war to life.
Thank you for this. It was informative and educational - I very much enjoyed watching it.
Really interesting video. The graphics, testimony and photos were great. And the sponsorship was really interesting too
Never knew this! Thank you!
I remember him coming to our house to mend our TV which regularly went wrong. He only seemed to need a screwdriver, which I believe was all he used in the raid.
Thanks for the video!🎉👍🏽🤙🏼
Any time!
I read a book in grade school about this in the mid sixtes. Good book and factual. The Radar Commando's
Love this channel. They always put out quality content. ! 👊💛👍
what a raid . and one i was not fully aware of. jolly good show
Great video I did not hear of this before
Thanks for watching!
I’m always wishing to learn something new and this is why I love UA-cam, sometimes I can’t read a book for a long time but a video really helps with visuals and audio!
Thank you for your comment!
Amazing story, thank you.
Thank you for your comment!
Excellent production, research and presentation. Top quality.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Lots of detail regarding this event in the book 'Most Secret War', by R. V. Jones
Thank you for this video.
More importantly: Thanks to those brave men who carried out the raid, I did not have to grow up speaking German.
The British put forth a certain air of genteel refinement, lifted pinky and all that, but when the moment comes, they are sharp as their daggers.
God Bless them all!
Thank you for your comment!
Amazing!
Well done!
Thanks
Way cool! Never heard that story-movie worthy.
Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it
What an incredible story of bravery
Max Hastings is on YT somewhere saying that Biting was a partly bungled operation (navy) which only succeeded because the British were very, very lucky and the importance of which was massively overstated for propaganda purposes. I often have serious issues with the opinions of so called _experts_ (we should all question) and find Max's take hard to believe though it is hard to deny that the navy's performance with their landing craft could have blown it.
The other significance of this raid was the use of the Para's. This was to be the very first major raid launched by the Para's and was seen as a major morale booster and proof the raids could be completed successfully,from the air
What a heroic tale
Such brave and smart English men.
And Scots. And Canadians. And New Zealanders. And Australians.
This story needs a movie.
totally agree!!
Brilliant - simply brilliant - well put together - just like a pro history channel!!
We wish we had the funding of a pro history channel. :) Thanks for your kind comments!
I dropped on this DZ from a Cessna 208 using a military round as part of a re-enactment display team on the 71st anniversary (we were to do the 70th the year before but were fogged in) It was a bloody hard landing due to high winds but worth doing to say I'd jumped on the Biting DZ!!
A couple of critiques for you to consider;
#1 A map showing the locations of the Wurzburg Radar sites on D-Day would have been helpful.
#2 Of the 8 men left behind in the dark, how many of them were from the 20 men that were dropped in the wrong position? Or were these 8 men part of the Defensive Screen?
very interesting thank you
Very welcome
Thanks for adding actual captions for the Deaf
Thank you for putting together this excellent video .
They were the best generation!
I feel so guilty a one of their children's generation that we failed to live up to their standards.
And my heart bleeds for what the US and some of Europe is becoming.
They were decent brave British men.
Brave men .oh yes I said MEN ...we should all salute you.
Exvellent Video. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it!
I read about the radar raid. The Video makes IT very vivid and gives a 3D view. Exvellent indeed. Thank you very much 😂
That was brilliant - many thanks - no gongs where mentioned but I'm sure awarded
Glad you enjoyed it
Awesome raid!
Excellent 👍
Thank you! Cheers!
Night Raid by Taylor Downing is a really good in depth account of this raid if anyone is interesting in learning more about this raid. It delves quite deeply into the history of radar and elaborates on a lot of the topics raised in this video.
Thank you for your comment!
The problem with the radios persisted. The Arnhem debacle 3 years later was in no small part due to the failure of the radios.
Seems to have been a common component of many battles during WWII. Maybe someone can put together a video discussing why they so often failed to work?
Very interesting piece of history. Nicely done. Thank you my British cousin, or UK cousin.
Gen. Frost, as a Major jumped into Arnhem on Market Garden, the bridge was renamed John Frost Bridge. His battalion was the only one to get to the city & capture the bridge's eastern end. This meant they faced the terrible street fighting as the Nazi Pz Divs (said to not be there) flattened this area. My friend's mother, 12 yrs old, was there & said, as in the movie, she had to build barriers using the dead bodies of her family, friends, neighbours & soldiers.
Outstanding thank you and God bless our brave forces, Amen.
We are glad you enjoyed the video!
Read Winning the Radar War by Jack Nissen for his account of a similar radar intelligence gathering operation during the Dieppe raid. He was the expert with 11 guards with him ordered to shoot him rather that let him be captured. Of the 12 of them who were to try and take the radar station, only he and one other returned. They did not capture the station but did get valuable intelligence.
Luck sometimes is the way to success.
But at a cost in lives.
Very interesting video
Glad you liked it
And useful as the radar was, that was still really a kind of bonus objective. The main reasons for the raid were to put the Germans on the defensive (which worked brilliantly as they then fortified the entire coast, which ironically made it easier to spot the other radars as they all had little circular patterns around them in the grass from the fences!) and to give our troops and future leaders combat experience, which given Major Frost's future could also have been said to work brilliantly! That they got the radar too was really the cherry on top of what would still have been counted a highly successful mission.
Many, Many respects for those fallen and brave men, Less we forget what they did for you and I. God bless.
I've read a book about Operation Biting so it was on my list when I visited Normandy (my favourite part of a beautiful country.) There seemed to still be some of the barbed wire fence remaining if you looked carefully. I understand that the villa was once owned by a champagne producer.
It's amazing to see the radar was in plain sight (probably needed for the operation of the radar) and not that well guarded.
Than you for your work, this story is fascinating when you gave more details and photos.
I do have a question however, what happened yo the team that was told to hold forces at le presbitere? Were they among the captured/left behind you mentioned at the end?
Greetings from Poland, your movies are both heartbreaking and uplifting.
We feel the war right next to us and some of us are there, with a new stories being made.
Hi, no they generally managed to withdraw with the rest. Thanks for watching!
Interesting fact of the day. Racehorse trainer Sir Henry Cecil's father was an officer in the same battalion as Frost, he was killed in action in North Africa
You can add this to the umpteen other raids that changed the course of the war.
I remember a story based on this raid in The Victor Comic (for boys) long long ago. It makes me wonder how much history there was hidden away in those stories but I guess events like this were better known at the time.
Heck, John Frost was still around and appearing on This is your life! Perhaps now his name is more familiar following Anthony Hopkins performance in A Bridge Too Far?
Used to love the Victor,
And the hotspur,
And the small one called commando.
That Colonel Frost was the same one that held out at Arnhem bridge played by the Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins in the epic film Bridge to Far. Also if my memory serves me right when i was a youngster use to watch Mastermind on BBC with quizmaster Magnus Magnusson im sure Professor R V Jones was on it once or twice as a contestant cant remember his specialized subjects how well he did.