Once on the ground they would attempt to disrupt the road and rail networks between Metz and Nancy and the approach to the Rhine plain.

The 51 men from 'A' Squadron 2nd Special Air Service (SAS) were to leave RAF Keevil, Wiltshire by Shorts Stirling aircraft on the 15 September.

Over the night of the 21/21 September they destroyed an electricity high tension pylon and then found an observation point overlooking their target railway line.

They planted explosives on the rail line on the 23 September which they heard successfully going off, but having left the area were unaware of what damage had been caused.

On the 28 September they took shelter at a farm, the farmer and his three sons (deserters from the German Army) informed them about the train they had destroyed.

They also discovered the area was defended by a panzer division and that about 1,000 troops and a General were stationed in the nearby village of Vergaville.

On 30 September Sergeant Williams group left the farm and headed west, they planted tyre burster's on a road which were set off by a passing tanks instead.

Leaving their rucksacks behind they made it to the edge of the wood and hid in a water-filled overgrown drainage ditch, which ran alongside the adjacent fields.

They were forced to leave their equipment behind as one of the men had overheard the Germans saying that they had found them and set up ambush for when they (the 'A3' group) returned to collect them.

The 'B1' group commander Lieutenant Birnie was captured on the 17 September and died in a prisoner of war camp after an air raid by the Allies.

[citation needed] The 'B2' group was commanded by Lieutenant Castellain who died of his wounds on the 12 October, shortly after having made contact with the Operation Loyton SAS mission.

The commander of the 'C1' group Captain Scott had badly sprained his ankle on landing and was finding it difficult to move about.

That evening they took shelter in an abandoned farm, by now the effects of the lost equipment panniers were taking their toll and the men were feeling weak from the loss of their food.

Moving into a disused farm they stayed in the area, cutting telephone wires and carrying out a reconnaissance of the gun positions.

[7] SQMS Alcock and his group three other men kept observations on a rail line all day of the 19 September mo trains were seen but they decided to lay an explosive charge anyway.

TWO GERMAN OFFICERS WERE KILLED IN THE RESULTING EXPLOSION -confirmed by me John Alcock's son graham and author of the book SAS OPERATION PISTOL.