Operation Gaff

During World War II, Operation Gaff was the parachuting of a six-man patrol of Special Air Service commandos into German-occupied France on Tuesday 25 July 1944, with the aim of killing or kidnapping German field marshal Erwin Rommel.

McLeod assigned six specially trained assassins led by French SAS captain Jack William Raymond Lee.

[4] The original Op order, dated 20 July 1944 states: "To kill ROMMEL would obviously be easier than to kidnap him and it is preferable to ensure the former rather than to attempt and fail in the latter.

Kidnapping would require successful two-way W/T communication and therefore a larger party, while killing could be reported by pigeon" On Tuesday 25 July 1944, Lee and his team parachuted into Orléans.

Rommel's staff car had been overturned in an attack by RAF Hawker Typhoons on 17 July 1944 and he had been replaced by Günther von Kluge.

Operational order for Op GAFF, dated 20 Jul 1944
Undated post-operational report, Capt S.W.Lee, Page 1
Undated post-operational report, Capt S.W.Lee, Page 2