THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion

Members can talk about good books and events covering Elite soldiers or Special Forces of WW2.

One of our members (Nicole) was recently reading a book covering the Black Devils; A Perfect Hell. This unit was one of America's earliest Special Forces.

by John Nadler

Another book on the same subject but providing an oral history from those who fought and served in the Black Devils is this book:

by Joseph A. Springer
Description:
The American and Canadian army volunteers who formed the innocuously named First Special Service Force in the Montana outback were assembled to perform virtually suicidal raids against German facilities in Norway and the Italian Alps. Filled with first-person accounts from unit members, this history documents the last-minute cancellation of those missions and the force's eventual service first in the Aleutian Islands and later in Italy, where their daring night raids earned the moniker Schwartzer Tuefel -- Black Devils -- from their German enemies. Illustrated with photos of the unit in training and combat, this history also examines how the risk-taking Black Devil Brigade, the antecedent of the current U.S. Army Special Forces, suffered disproportionate casualties and was often misused as line infantry. The story ends with the unit's key role in the 1944 invasion of southern France, after which it was dispersed.

If anyone wants to recommend one of their favourite books covering Elite and/or Special Forces of WW2, be it Commandos, SAS, LRDG, Rangers, Paratroopers, etc from any belligerent nation of WW2 please post the information here for the benefit of all members.

Here is a book that I read in the late 1970's or early 80's that has been re-released and may interest some members:

by James Lucas
Description:
Without these secret agents paving the way, Germany would have found it far more difficult to invade Czechoslovakia and Poland. Kommando details the stunning achievement of Nazi operatives in naval warfare, including suicide pilots, human torpedoes, and the young people of the Werewolf, trained in partisan warfare.

This book covers the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) and although I haven't read it myself it has picked up some excellent reader reviews elsewhere:

by David Lloyd Owen
Description:
The Long Range Desert Group has the distinction of being not just one of the first special forces units to be formed in the Second World War but, more importantly, one of the most effective; General Erwin Rommel is on record as believing so. This splendid record takes the reader behind enemy lines not only in North Africa but in Italy, the Aegean and the Balkans. It paints a vivid picture of the units colourful characters: for example, Ralph Bagnold who put to good use the knowledge he gained from his pre-war desert travels. The LRDG was truly international with New Zealanders and Rhodesians playing key roles. This classic book won acclaim from the critics on its first publication by virtue of the author's unique knowledge, experience and narrative skills. His account of the LRDG's operations is admirably complemented by his shrewd observations of the politico-military climate within the unit operated.

Reviews:
"A splendid Adventure Story." - The Guardian

"A tale of tremendous courage and enthusiasm - A delight to read." - The Field

"Marvellously exciting reading." - The Spectator"

About the Author:
Major-General David Lloyd Owen, CB DSO OBE MC was educated at Winchester College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Commissioned into The Queen's Royal Regiment in 1938, he saw service in Palestine before joining the Long Range Desert Group in 1941. Two years later, at the age of 26, he took over command of the unit until its disbandment in 1945. He has been Chairman of the LRDG Association since 1945. His post-war service included the posts of Military Assistant to the High Commissioner in Malaya (1952-53), Commander 24 infantry Brigade in Kenya (1962-64) and GOC Cyprus District and Near East Land Forces (1966-69). The author, who is married with three sons, is now retired and lives in Norfolk.

This book has been around for some time and offers an interesting insight into one of Germany's special forces unit of WW2:


by Franz Kurowski
Description:
Very few books have been written about this clandestine operations unit, which was run by the German Army's intelligence service. Trained to be quick, mobile, and self-reliant and steeped in local customs and languages, the Brandenburgers operated behind enemy lines around the world. From Western Europe to Romania, Russia, Egypt, Afghanistan, and World War II's other fronts, they seized bridges and other strategic targets and engaged in sabotage, espionage, and other daring missions - often bending the rules of war in the process. Although the unit was dissolved in 1944, its tactics influenced special forces around the world both during the war and after.

Here is a new release due out in a few months (UK) that may interest those members who enjoy accounts of special forces during WW2:

by James Owen
Description:
June 1940: As Britain's soldiers limped home from Dunkirk, a maverick Army officer was already devising a bold plan to hit back at the enemy. His idea was to revolutionise military thinking and change the face of warfare for ever.

Relying as much on stealth and guile as on courage and stamina, the Commandos brought to the battlefield the skills of the guerrilla. Trained by an unconventional band of experts, and led by a big-game hunter, a film star, a Highland chief and an eccentric wielding a bow and arrow, they became the spearhead of the Allied drive for victory.

Weaving together official documents, new research and veterans' own accounts, Commando reveals for the first time the exhilarating full story of WWII's most formidable fighting force.

Here's several books on the topic from my to-read shelf.

by Orr Kelly

by Terence O'Brien

byYurly Fedorovich Strekhnin

by Hodding Carter

by Otto Skorzeny

Canadians Behind Enemy Lines, 1939 1945by Roy MacLaren

by David Sutherland

by Roy Close

by Ian Wellsted

by John F. Wukovits

by Paul McCue

by Jim DeFelice

by Robert W. Black

by H. Paul Jeffers

by Rowland White

by Bret Werner

by Ken Joyce

by Robert D. Burhans

by Robert Todd Ross

James A. Woods

by Joseph A. Springer

by Tony Redding

by Peter Stanley

by Ken Ford

by Jon Cooksey

by Nicholas van der Bijl

by John Durnford-Slater

by Ken Ford

by Richard Dorney

by Peter Thompson

by William Y'blood

by Virginia Cowles

by Gavin Mortimer

by Francis Mackay

by Larry Alexander

by Paul McCue

by Mike Guardia

by Kenneth McAlpine

by Ken Ford

by Paul Cleary

byBryan Samain

by Niall Cherry

by Stan Scott

by William Wise

by Ben Parnell

by Roger Ford

by Mike Guardia

Jerome thanks for taking the time to do this for others. I am sure people will many to add to TBRs.

Yes, some very good titles there Jerome, thanks.

Oh, and I just found this at my local library:

Commandos and Rangers of World War II by James Ladd

Just started it.

I would highly recommend Ladd's book also.

Good to hear Jerome, thanks :)

And by William M. Leary

by Lorna Almonds-Windmill

by John W. Gordon

by Mike Morgan

by Ken Ford

by Robert Forczyk

by John B. Dwyer

by Helmut Blocksdorf

The first 60 pages of Air Commando: Inside The Air Force Special Operations Command deal with the birth of the Air Commandos in the Far East during WW II. There are some great stories, usually recounted by the participants in interviews or in letters. Here is one:

At the start of Orde Wingate’s second irregular warfare effort, Operation Thursday, in Burma, the forces landed in jungle clearings with the intention to build short airstrips to resupply, fly in additional troops, evacuate wounded. Here is a recounting of one hair-raising glider landing:

(view spoiler)[ “There was a glider with a bulldozer lashed behind the pilot and copilot in the passenger space. When landing, the pilot turned left to avoid wreckage, overshot and crashed into a clump of trees. The fuselage went between the only two trees that were wide enough apart to let it through. As it skidded along at 100 miles an hour, both wings were ripped off and the fuselage continued alone with the bulldozer turned loose inside. When the fuselage finally came to a halt, the momentum carried the machinery forward towards the cockpit. Fortunately it had been rigged to elevate the nose section in such an eventuality, and the hinged cockpit was yanked skywards as the bulldozer roared out underneath the pilot’s seats, crashing through the jungle for another 50 yards. The nose flipped back into place with the pilot and copilot still in their seats. The Yank pilot looked the crash over for a moment and nodded sagely, “I planned it just that way.” (hide spoiler)]

Air Force Special Operations Command motto, “Any Time, Any Place”, came from a British unit commander when 4 British and 3 American troops were killed in a training accident preparing for Wingate’s second irregular warfare effort, Operation Thursday, in Burma. The commander sent a note to the Americans not to worry about the accident “please be assured we will go with your boys Any Place, Any Time, Any Where.”

The first combat rescue by this aircraft took place during Operation Thursday in Burma. I did not know this until now.

(view spoiler)[2Lt Carter Harman took his YR-4 helicopter from India into Burma to rescue an American pilot and 3 wounded British soldiers whose L-1 airplane had been shot down a long way from the nearest ground forces. The story of the rescue is fascinating as he can only pick up one soldier at a time while the Japanese are searching for them. And his little “egg-beater” is straining in the higher elevations. Very interesting story.” (hide spoiler)]

Mike wrote: "The first 60 pages of Air Commando: Inside The Air Force Special Operations Command deal with the birth of the Air Commandos in the Far East during WW II. There are some great stories, usually reco..."

That's a great story Mike - I bet they were shit scared!

Mike wrote: "Air Force Special Operations Command motto, “Any Time, Any Place”, came from a British unit commander when 4 British and 3 American troops were killed in a training accident preparing for Wingate’s..."

That's also a great account about the motto - thanks for posting the details Mike.

Mike wrote: "Air Force Special Operations Command motto, “Any Time, Any Place”, came from a British unit commander when 4 British and 3 American troops were killed in a training accident preparing for Wingate’s..."

Thanks Mike that's an interesting piece.

by Roderick Bailey

Nice book Jerome.

One of our group members & GR's authors, Patrick K. O'Donnell, has these great books covering Elite & Special Forces of WW2:

Patrick K. O'Donnell


Beyond Valor


Into the Rising Sun


Operatives, Spies, and Saboteurs


They Dared Return


The Brenner Assignment


Dog Company

Here are two books covering different aspects of 'special forces' from the other side of the wire:


by Perry Biddiscombe

by Perry Biddiscombe

Here's some titles on the British efforts to sabotage the Nazi atomic bomb program:

by Jostein Berglyd

by Thomas Gallagher

by Knut Haukelid

by Ray Mears

by Dan Kurzman

More good books, thanks Jerome :)

Here is an interesting book offering an account of the Italian Decima MAS of WW2 fame:


by Jack Greene
Description:
At the beginning of World War II, Prince Junio Valerio Borghese, dashing Italian nobleman, assembled the famous Decima MAS naval unit-the first modern naval commando squad. Borghese's "frogmen" were trained to fight undercover and underwater with small submarines and assault boats armed with a variety of destructive torpedoes. The covert tactics he and the Decima MAS developed, including the use of midget submarines, secret nighttime operations, and small teams armed with explosives, have become a standard for special forces around the world to this very day.After the Italian capitulation in 1943, Borghese determinedly fought on as a Fascist commando leader. After the war, he became a man of mystery, variously said to be involved with several right-wing conspiracies, abortive coups, and clandestine activity. The Prince's death in 1974 was every bit as mysterious as his life.Greene and Massignani have drawn upon official archives as well as information from Allied and Axis veterans in an unprecedented attempt to separate fact from fantasy in this detailed examination of Borghese, the Decima MAS, and the Italian naval special forces.

Ooh, that looks sweet, thanks, Rick.

Here's a related title:

by J. Valerio Borghese


Synopsis

Though little known to the English-speaking world, the elite World War II Italian naval unit Decima Flottiglia MAS is considered by many to be the first modern naval commando squad. Assembled by Prince Junio Valerio Borghese at the beginning of the war, these frogmen were trained to fight undercover and underwater with small submarines and assault boats armed with a variety of torpedoes--pioneering tactics that remain a standard for Special Forces around the world today. The commandos story is told by the man who trained and led them in their desperate exploits. Borghese blends his own account with details offered by his men to present valuable insights into one of the Italian s fiercest and most formidable fighting units.

Very related indeed :)

Looks like a book worth checking out!

This new release title covers the British Para raid against the German Bruneval facility at Le Havre in 1941:


by Taylor Downing
Description:
The loss of British bombers over Occupied Europe began to reach alarming levels in 1941. Could it be that the Germans were using a sophisticated form of radar to direct their night fighters and anti-aircraft guns at the British bombers? British aerial reconnaissance discovered what seemed to be a rotating radar tower on a clifftop at Bruneval, near Le Havre. The truth must be revealed.

The decision was taken to launch a daring raid on the Bruneval site to try and capture the technology for further examination. The planned airborne assault would be extremely risky. The parachute regiment had only been formed a year before on Churchill's insistence. This night raid would test the men to the extreme limits of their abilities.

Night Raid tells the gripping tale of this mission from the planning stages, to the failed rehearsals when the odds seemed stacked against them, to the night of the raid itself, and the scientific secrets that were discovered thanks to the paras' precious cargo - the German radar. Its capture was of immense importance in the next stages of the war and the mission itself marked the birth of the legend of the 'Red Devils'.

Review:
"The Bruneval Raid was the start of the airborne brotherhood. Taylor Downing's vivid account brings alive this important turning point in military history with flair and pace." - Andy McNab

Also posted in the New Release section.

This new book may interest those readers of 'Special Ops' and the units involved during WWII:


by Michael F. Dilley
Description:
The array of new technologies that came on the scene in the early 20th century resulted in widely varied new forms of military special operations once civilization embarked on its greatest war. Suddenly, fighting men could be delivered by parachute, submarine, glider, jeeps, and fast amphibious craft deep into enemy territory to perform special tasks; yet others would continue to perform missions the same as their ancestors in previous wars - on foot using stealth, endurance and patience. This work contains discussions of the employment of various special purpose, special mission organizations during World War II. These units operated in Allied and Axis countries and in various theaters of war including Europe, North Africa, the Pacific, Asia, and the continental United States. Representing every major combatant, the operations include various kinds of raids, intelligence gathering missions, support to partisan/guerrilla groups, prisoner rescues, direct-action missions, and at least two where the object was simply to steal something. Some missions would have been officially denied if the operations had been caught in the act. The book is divided into two sections: Behind Enemy Lines and Behind Friendly Lines, to demonstrate that special-purpose organizations can be employed wherever needed, even in areas controlled by military units of their own or allied countries. Many of the units described run the gamut of special mission types, from commando to parachute units, reconnaissance to sabotage units, and partisan training units as well as those with combined missions. Many of the operations described in this book continue to serve as templates for modern Special Operations missions, while still others - the first attempts of their kind - continue to serve as examples of what not to try under the circumstances.

About the Author:
Michael F. Dilley served for 20 years in the U.S. Army's Military Intelligence branch, and for 25 years with the Department of Defense as a contractor in various fields of research, instruction, and investigation.

This will come out by the end of the month:

Tobruk: A Raid Too Far

by David Jefferson

Synopsis

The disastrous raid on Tobruk, the ill-fated Operation Agreement, took place in September 1942. The purpose? To cut off Field-Marshal Rommel's supply line prior to the Battle of El Alamein, which would be crucial in determining the success or failure of the North African campaign. Operation Agreement involved the army, navy and air force together with the Long Range Desert Group and the Special Interrogation Group, who were fluent German speakers who donned Nazi uniforms to carry out risky missions behind enemy lines. For many years, little would be known about the Tobruk raid. One survivor, seconded to the Commandos for the raid, was told in no uncertain terms to keep his mouth shut when returning to his unit. Based on eyewitness accounts and previously unpublished interviews with veterans, Tobruk: A Raid Too Far explores the operation in-depth, highlighting appalling errors of judgement and their tragic consequences, as well as the astonishing trek of survivors across the desert to reach their front lines.

Thanks for the details on the book Jerome, it does sound interesting.

Here is another new book due out in July of this year that may interest a few members. I think I may have to get a copy myself.

by Robert Lyman
Description:
On the night of 28 March 1942 the Royal Navy and British commandos assaulted the German-held French Atlantic port of Saint-Nazaire in one of the most audacious raids of the Second World War. Their plan was simple: to drive an old destroyer packed with three tons of explosive at full speed into the outer gate of the Normandie dock.

Destroying this would deny the formidable Tirpitz battleship, currently lurking menacingly in the Norwegian fjords, a base from which it could inflict devastation upon the convoys supplying Britain from the United States. 'Operation Chariot' was dramatically successful, but at a great cost. Fewer than half the men who went on the mission returned. In recognition of their extraordinary bravery, eighty-nine decorations were awarded, including five Victoria Crosses.

Into the Jaws of Death is a gripping story of high daring that demonstrates how the decisive courage of a small group of men changed the course of the war.

Here is a new title for those members who love accounts of WW2 special forces and their operations; The Eyes of the Desert Rats:

by David Syrett
Description:
The extraordinary story of how a relatively small number of dedicated men developed the methods and techniques for crossing the vast unmapped Western Desert Made up of members of the Coldstream and Scots Guards, British yeomanry cavalry regiments, New Zealanders, South Africans, and Indian Army men, the Long Range Desert Group was perhaps the most effective of all the "special forces" established by the Allies during World War II. It was able to go thousands of miles into enemy territory, well-armed and carrying its own supplies of petrol, food and even water to last for weeks at a time, something previously unheard of. Using experience acquired in World War I and inter-war exploration travels, the LRDG thus developed the ability to appear almost anywhere in the desert to carry out almost every type of ground reconnaissance mission possible in desert warfare, exploring and mapping the terrain, transporting agents behind enemy lines or determining the strength and location of enemy forces with an extraordinary degree of accuracy and detail. Equally important were their skills in the art of desert navigation, demonstrated in the outflanking of the enemy during the Allied advance from El Alamein westward to Tunisia, as led by the LRDG. Through meticulous research in original archival material, this book tells the extraordinary story of how a relatively small number of dedicated men developed the methods and techniques for crossing by motor vehicle the depths of the then unmapped and seemingly impassable great Western Desert, during the British Army's North African Campaign of 1940 43. Their tactics, techniques and remarkable success in desert warfare continue to make them of great interest to the student of military affairs. Likewise, as it seeks to answer how the deep desert can best be used for military purposes, this study is pertinent to today's military operations, perhaps more so than at any time since World War II.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Here is a new title for those members who love accounts of WW2 special forces and their operations; The Eyes of the Desert Rats:

[bookcover:The Eyes of the Desert Rats: British Long-Range Reconnai..."

read my next book out in May, Four War Boer, which is the life story of the man who trained the South Africa and Commonwealth commandos who served in those areas.

This is a critical look at the LRDG in North Africa...I have read it twice and enjoyed it
THE OTHER DESERT WAR

http://www.amazon.com/The-Other-Deser...

Sounds like a great book, thanks for the information Jim.



by John W. Gordon
Description:
This book traces the history of the Long Range Desert Force and other such units from their origins in World War I and the period before World War II to their spectacular successes and failures against the Germans and Italians in the latter conflict. Along the way, the reader learns of the personalities, bureaucractic impediments, hostile environment and luck that affected British efforts to create and maintain these special forces. This superb volume is both highly informative and entertaining.

Review:
"John W. Gordon's book reveals an impressive mastery of the archival and secondary sources available on this subject. His writing is crisp and interesting, yet sober and scholarly at the same time. The daring and resourceful men of the British desert forces have found a historian whose ability to tell their story matches their ability to create some of the most daring and imaginative operations of World War II. This is an extraordinary book about extraordinary soldiers." - Military Review

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Here is a new title for those members who love accounts of WW2 special forces and their operations; The Eyes of the Desert Rats:

[bookcover:The Eyes of the Desert Rats: British Long-Range Reconnai..."

Uh Southern Rhodesians not South Africans.

I have found when reading about special operations in any period you need to mix up the reading completely.

Right now I am looking at a whole series of books on the Jedburghs in France and Western Europe in 1944. These are all secondary works like

Bulbasket was different and was in conjuction with the Jedburghs. I also find it lead me into reading the myriad of books that deal with the politics of occupied France, the resistance and the German counter-intelligence operations.

Then you have all the memoir and I was there literature which is invaluable that must be incorporated into your understanding...this will prepare me for a trip to the NATIONAL ARCHIVES when I take the next step...but special operations can be tied into inter bureaucratic battles, international politics and other factors such as shifting battles and disputes on Allied strategy...and forget the partisan war in Yugoslavia...what a complicated situation to figure out even with all the great resources we have.

this is a great book on the SOE if people can check it out in a research library or get it on inter library loan...the comparable OSS history by Kermit Roosevelt in two volumes is not as good.



The secret history of SOE : Special Operations Executive, 1940-1945 / William Mackenzie.
Published
London : St Ermin's, 2000.
Description
xxix, 814 p. Maps ; 24 cm.

This source is alot of fun to read with livelier secondary accounts of SOE operations and of course the book by MRD Foot

read Aaron Bank's book. He was a Jedburgh man, later created the Green Berets, and I was able to interview him.

Colin wrote: "read Aaron Bank's book. He was a Jedburgh man, later created the Green Berets, and I was able to interview him."

cool...read the book and enjoyed it thoroughly

BTW,

I may have posted this but here is a comprehensive website on the OSS
Operational Groups from WW II...a friend had her late uncle in a Greek OG so I was helping her dig the info out and came across this

http://www.ossog.org

I have a major interest in the SAS and LRDG in World War 2, as my father has built a replica Jeep and Chev in desert configuration (see my photo gallery). Both the LRDG and the SAS were incredibly brave, resourceful and tough characters who achieved amazing feats of arms in North Africa, the Meditteranean, France and in the Balkans. I have been reading and collecting books for my father, and here are some rare gems:

Eastern Approaches
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32...

Kiwi Scorpions - Illustrated account of the New Zealand LRDG units in North Africa
http://www.amazon.com/The-Kiwi-Scorpi...

Sting of the Scorpion
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12...

Long Range Desert Group
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15...

Long Range Desert Group Patrolman
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76...

The Long Range Desert Group 1940-1945
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/86...

The SAS in World War 2
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11...

Stirlings Men
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/98...

Justin,

there is a lot written about Long Range Reconnaissance Troops, Finnish elite forces. (Or how would you feel about spending days or weeks behind enemy lines, even during the winter?) But this, I guess, is one of the only books in English. Actually Törni wasn't even in those troops, his assignments were somewhat different. But anyway, you might be interested in reading about him. Born A Soldier: The Times And Life Of Larry A Thorne

Tytti wrote: "Justin,

there is a lot written about Long Range Reconnaissance Troops, Finnish elite forces. (Or how would you feel about spending days or weeks behind enemy lines, even during the winter?) But th..."

Hi Tytti,

Looks very interesting! It seems he had an extremely eventful life indeed. You should try and pick up a copy of Eastern Approaches by Fitzroy Maclean. It seems they both had amazing experiences traveling the world and fighting in different theatres.

Justin wrote: "Tytti wrote: "Justin,

there is a lot written about Long Range Reconnaissance Troops, Finnish elite forces. (Or how would you feel about spending days or weeks behind enemy lines, even during the w..."

I doubt it ends up here, though it might be interesting. I rarely go out of my way to find foreign books, but we do get a lot and the best are translated. But I mostly rely on what our libraries offer. And of course we have a lot of Finnish research that never gets noticed abroad.

Looks like this is coming out in November:


Description:
In August of 1943, a call went out for American soldiers willing to embark on a “hazardous and dangerous mission” behind enemy lines in Burma. The war department wanted 3,000 volunteers, and it didn’t care who they were; they would be expendable, with an expected casualty rate of 85 percent. The men who took up the challenge were, in the words of one, “bums and cast-offs” with rap sheets and reputations for trouble. One war reporter described them as “Dead End Kids,” but by the end of their five-month mission, those that remained had become the legendary “Merrill’s Marauders.” From award-winning historian Gavin Mortimer, Merrill’s Marauders is the story of the American World War II special forces unit originally codenamed “Galahad,” which, in 1944, fought its way through 700 miles of snake-infested Burmese jungle—what Winston Churchill described as “the most forbidding fighting country imaginable.” Though their mission to disrupt Japanese supply lines and communications was ultimately successful, paving the way for the Allied conquest of Burma, the Marauders paid a terrible price for their victory. By the time they captured the crucial airfield of Myitkyina in May 1944, only 200 of the original 3,000 men remained; the rest were dead, wounded, or riddled with disease. This is the definitive nonfiction narrative of arguably the most extraordinary, but also unsung, American special forces unit in World War II.

Good add Jerome, thanks.

An April release:

by Dennis R. Okerstrom
Description:
Project 9: The Birth of the Air Commandos in World War II is a thoroughly researched narrative of the Allied joint project to invade Burma by air. Beginning with its inception at the Quebec Conference of 1943 and continuing through Operation Thursday until the death of the brilliant British General Orde Wingate in March 1944, less than a month after the successful invasion of Burma, Project 9 details all aspects of this covert mission, including the selection of the American airmen, the procurement of the aircraft, the joint training with British troops, and the dangerous night-time assault behind Japanese lines by glider.

Based on review of hundreds of documents as well as interviews with surviving Air Commandos, this is the history of a colorful, autonomous, and highly effective military unit that included some of the most recognizable names of the era. Tasked by the General of the Army Air Forces, H. H. “Hap” Arnold, to provide air support for British troops under the eccentric Major General Wingate as they operated behind Japanese lines in Burma, the Air Commandos were breaking entirely new ground in operational theory, tactics, and inter-Allied cooperation. Okerstrom’s in-depth research and analysis in Project 9 shed light on the operations of America’s first foray into special military operations, when these heroes led the way for the formation of modern special operations teams such as Delta Force and Seal Team Six.