Missing from the list is an even more daring raid, circa 1,130 BC: Biblical Gideon's raid & victory over the Midianites.
Posted on 12/11/2017 5:40:09 AM PST by w1n1
And these are the ones we know about. The truly remarkable ones are those we’ll never hear about.
These were great raids, of course, but the so-called “Great Raid” of the US Army Rangers in 1945 to free the survivors of the Bataan Death March should be included. That raid was the Rangers’ first real operation and went deep into Japanese territory to the prison camp at Cabanatuan in the Philippines.
One more and one of the most amazing was the mountaintop rescue of Mussolini by Germans. He was being kept in a castle thought to be secure.
I am not sure how to spell the German commando leader’s name but it is something like Skorzeny.
Taking nothing away from the bravery and technical competence of those who participated, I don’t think the Osama raid merits inclusion in this list. Osama was hiding out in a virtually unguarded house in a country that was at least a semi-ally of the US. An American soldier standing in dress blues two houses away would not have been shot at by the Pakistani police or army (probably!). And of course Obama ordered Osama killed despite the possible loss of intelligence that entailed. I think this raid has been puffed up to boost B. Hussein Obama’s near record low machismo level.
Otto Skorzeny—an Austrian of Polish ancestry.
James J. Andrew’s raid on the Memphis & Charleston railroad in N. Georgia in April of 1862. AKA the Great Locomotive Chase. Eight members were hanged as spies. Four of the raiders were awarded the MOH
In August 2014 the brigade conducted a raid behind the separatist lines. The 95th Airmobile Brigade, which had been reinforced with armor assets and attachments, launched a surprise attack on separatist lines, broke through into their rear areas, fought for 450 kilometers, and destroyed or captured numerous Russian tanks and artillery pieces before returning to Ukrainian lines. They operated not as a concentrated brigade but rather split into three company-sized elements on different axes of advance. According to Phillip Karber, it was one of the longest raids in the military history.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/95th_Air_Assault_Brigade_(Ukraine)
Had a neighbor that was on that raid. I tried to get him to tell the story on video tape. He wouldn’t do it. He passed sometime ago. Clearly it impacted his soul - deeply.
The Raid on Son Tay Prison Camp.
Sorry folks, this one is a fraud.
ReCon with the White Horse division had visited the site 3 days prior and informed comment that the camp was empty.
They told him to shut up and just get on the chopper when they landed and sent him on R&R to Australia for 30 days.
After that “rescue team” was decorated, the ReCon soldier threw away all his medals, as they became meaningless.
That’s the aircraft they used to fly Mussolini out after they secured him.
After the war the allies tried to charge Skarzeny with war crimes because he operated behind their lines.
British and American soldiers and officers testified in his defense and he was acquitted.
He spent his later years in Spain.
Many years ago I watched a Storch do touch and goes on a windy day at the Santa Barbara airport. The wind was brisk enough that it was basically taking off and landing from the same spot. It did this several times.
Yes, Otto Skorzeny. A fascinating character, wound up actually working for the Mossad.
“Many years ago I watched a Storch do touch and goes on a windy day at the Santa Barbara airport. The wind was brisk enough that it was basically taking off and landing from the same spot. It did this several times.”
Never saw one fly but got to see one in the museum in Arizona. It was hanging from the ceiling over some “higher performance” aircraft. I was staring at it when a docent came over and said “You know what that is!” with a grin on his face. He told me most people didn’t even notice it. Ends up it was one his favorites also. We had a good chat.
To the Shores of Tripoli
In April 1805 the US Navy, with U.S. Marines, launched an operation against the port of Tripoli. The objective was to install a new ruler.
The detachment of Marines, under the command of Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon, led a frontal assault on a harbor fort at the Battle of Derna. O'Bannon and his small force captured the fort.
Marking the first American victory on foreign soil, O'Bannon raised an American flag over the fortress. The mention of the "shores of Tripoli" in the "Marine's Hymn" refers to this triumph.
A new pasha was installed in Tripoli, and he presented O'Bannon with a curved "Mameluke" sword, which is named for North African warriors. To this day Marine dress swords replicate the sword given to O'Bannon.
Nothing on this thread about the British? My goodness, did they ever pull some hair-raising commando raids in WW2.
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