Operation Squatter - the first SAS airdrop

Operation Squatter - the first SAS airdrop

In 1941, the newly formed Special Air Service (SAS) tried its first parachute attack. The mission was part of the fighting in North Africa during the Second World War. The SAS planned to drop small teams behind enemy lines to attack airfields and aircraft.

The drop took place at night. The weather was much worse than the planners expected. Strong winds and low clouds made it hard for the planes to find the drop zones. Some groups landed far from where they were meant to be. Others hit the ground badly and were injured.

Sixty-five men took part in the operation. Because of the bad landings and the difficult situation on the ground, many could not regroup or complete their tasks. Some were captured, some were killed, and others were badly wounded. In the end, only 22 of the 65 men survived and returned to friendly lines.

The teams could not find or destroy any enemy aircraft. The main targets—airfields and planes—were not damaged. On paper, the mission failed to reach its military goals.

Even though Operation Squatter was a disaster, it became an important lesson for the SAS. The commanders learnt about planning drops, choosing safe landing zones, and preparing for bad weather. The unit changed how it trained and how it planned future raids.

After this failure, the SAS did not give up. They used the lessons from Operation Squatter to improve their methods. Over time, they became much more successful and gained a reputation as an effective and respected special forces unit.