Operation Saxifrage
Encyclopedia
During World War II
, Operation Saxifrage was a raid by four small Special Air Service
teams who landed on the east coast of Italy
on the night of 27 October 1943. Despite miserable weather, the team was able to cut the rail line between Ancona
and Pescara
in several places before being withdrawn by boat on 27 October. Two troopers were captured.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Operation Saxifrage was a raid by four small Special Air Service
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
teams who landed on the east coast of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
on the night of 27 October 1943. Despite miserable weather, the team was able to cut the rail line between Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
and Pescara
Pescara
Pescara is the capital city of the Province of Pescara, in the Abruzzo region of Italy. As of January 1, 2007 it was the most populated city within Abruzzo at 123,059 residents, 400,000 with the surrounding metropolitan area...
in several places before being withdrawn by boat on 27 October. Two troopers were captured.