The Bruneval Raid - Operation Biting 1942

By Ken Ford

In the darkest days of World War II, the British planned a daring airborne operation to capture the secret of the new German radar. Lead by Major John Frost, a company of paratroopers dropped into Bruneval on the French coast, and quickly neutralized a small German garrison. Then began a desperate fight for time as the British tried to dismantle the German radar and evacuate back to England, as ever more German units converged on their position. Using artwork, photographs, and detailed maps, this action-packed narrative puts the reader in the planning room and on the battlefield of one of the greatest raids of World War II.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Mar 20, 2012
• ISBN: 9781780965420

Ken Ford

Ken Ford was born in Hampshire in 1943. He trained as an engineer and spent almost thirty years in the telecommunications industry. He now spends his time as an author and a bookseller specialising in military history. He has written a number of books on various Second World War subjects. Ken now lives in Southampton.

Reviews for The Bruneval Raid - Operation Biting 1942

[tchesney_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was read between August 19 and 21, 2011.This booklet was excellent. It was a very enjoyable short read.This is one of the Osprey Raid series. It is about a raid by the British Paratroops, against the Germans, in France, during World War II. It occurs early in the war. It is a combined operation code named 'Biting' and it takes place on the night of February 27/28, 1942. It occurs northeast of Le Havre, on the English Channel. The goal was to retrieve part of a new type of German radar set, as well as photographs, data, etc. As with all Raid booklets, it is profusely illustrated with very good maps. There is no Glossary.On the positive side: The 'small black object' on the photograph on page 13 is impossible to locate. It just isn't there. But, turn the page and the photograph on page 15 clearly shows where it is. Going back to the prior photo, "So that's where it is! Now I see it!". No. 38 and No. 18 radio sets are mentioned. The need for an overall map of France is met by the one on page 43. Mentioning that there are are 16 men on an MGB is good.On the negative side: There should be a Glossary and it should contain ALC (some type of Landing Craft), TRE, RDF, CIU, etal. What is a sapper? What is a Polish mine detector? For the radio sets, more data and a couple of photographs or pictures should be provided. They were an important aspect of the raid. There could have been a little more data on the method to be used for signally the boats from the shore. Every place mentioned should be able to be located on a map. It doesn't have to actually be on a map (but that is best), but it must be able to be clearly located: 5 miles north of ..., next to ..., between ... and ...., etc. Artwork for a paratroop, a sten gun, etc., would have been a winner.The direction of the actual paratroop drop was confusing. The map on page 43 implies northeast to southwest. The text ('turned 180 degrees to port', on page 44), the photograph on page 42 (north is to the left) and the map (pages 50-51) clearly indicate the opposite.I have to admit that I particularly liked the mentioning of "watering the fertile soil" (before the jump) and immediately relieving themselves (upon landing). It was all of that British tea.It was very well written!