Churchill’s Shadow Raiders by Damien Lewis
2019 / 350 pgs. (104,000 words) Military and War, History

The birth of the British Airborne Commando Operations, Operation Colossus, the very first British airborne operation, a mission to parachute into Italy and destroy a key freshwater aqueduct. It explores the challenges the team faced and how the mission ultimately ended in failure when their extraction failed, leading to the entire team’s capture.

However, the idea wasn’t over. The battle of Briton was an air battle and RADAR was the key that helped the British survive. The story then shifts to a critical intelligence-gathering raid in France. Understanding that German RADAR technology was a major threat, commandos were sent to capture parts of an advanced Würzburg radar system and return them to the UK. This mission proved to be a major success, providing intelligence that would have a great impact on the future Operation Overlord (D-Day).

Would I recommend it? It’s a good book for those that are interested in the subject. Having a RADAR background, the book sparked my interest. If you are not interested in military history, it might not be for you.

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and a delightful book!

– Lopaka