An evening with Max Hastings

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 Würzburg. The brilliant scientist Dr.R.V. Jones proposed an assault to capture key components. The nearest accessible enemy set stood upon a 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 mis dropped 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. 

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 miniatures of the greatest conflict in history.