Post by Diarist on Jun 28, 2016 13:56:03 GMT 1
It was already dark when we landed at Duxford and we had a working dinner in the mess hall. Sally had brought the latest photos of the drop-zone. Everything looked pretty much the same as in the previous day's photos. There appeared to be no positions near the DZ, only road blocks on the three roads that meet in Maiden Bradley. Well have to neutralize the two on the roads leading to the HQ's of 4th and 6th Bde's and be prepared to attack the third if it is alerted. Otherwise it will be attacked at the same time we storm the Div HQ. This third road leads to the Signals unit on Gare Hill.
We went back to our hangar and briefed the troops.
"Good evening, Ladies," I greeted my troops. "This little exercise should be over in time for breakfast and as far as I am concerned you can then have your beauty sleep. For those of us like myself who don't need it I'm sure we can liberate a pub in the village to enjoy a liquid breakfast. We have three road blocks to take care of here, here and here. We need to be in place to attack all three at once, but if this third one isn't alerted it can wait until we storm the HQ. There is plenty of cover to reach the village centre then attack the HQ complex from three directions. Although there appear to be no other guard posts they may have patrols at night so keep your eyes open. Questions?"
"There aren't many of us. Do you want us to bring the wounded and prisoners into the village in a central location."
"At the road blocks there will be no prisoners, nor any wounded. Do we understand each other. As you mentioned, there aren't many of us. We don't have extra personnel which a company on the frontline has and we have no rear area."
"My squad is assigned to the third road block. Who decides whether we attack or not?"
"You are the squad leader, Sergeant?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Then you decide. It's that simple. It's your call. It's nearer to the HQ than the other two so anything you do has a greater chance of alerting the HQ personnel. But if your target is alerted they'll inform the HQ anyway. Stop THEM from alerting the HQ. Understood?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Nothing else? Good, we are leaving in 45 minutes. Get ready and think of breakfast."
At 2240 five Valentia's took off from RAF Duxford heading west then SSW.
We went back to our hangar and briefed the troops.
"Good evening, Ladies," I greeted my troops. "This little exercise should be over in time for breakfast and as far as I am concerned you can then have your beauty sleep. For those of us like myself who don't need it I'm sure we can liberate a pub in the village to enjoy a liquid breakfast. We have three road blocks to take care of here, here and here. We need to be in place to attack all three at once, but if this third one isn't alerted it can wait until we storm the HQ. There is plenty of cover to reach the village centre then attack the HQ complex from three directions. Although there appear to be no other guard posts they may have patrols at night so keep your eyes open. Questions?"
"There aren't many of us. Do you want us to bring the wounded and prisoners into the village in a central location."
"At the road blocks there will be no prisoners, nor any wounded. Do we understand each other. As you mentioned, there aren't many of us. We don't have extra personnel which a company on the frontline has and we have no rear area."
"My squad is assigned to the third road block. Who decides whether we attack or not?"
"You are the squad leader, Sergeant?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Then you decide. It's that simple. It's your call. It's nearer to the HQ than the other two so anything you do has a greater chance of alerting the HQ personnel. But if your target is alerted they'll inform the HQ anyway. Stop THEM from alerting the HQ. Understood?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Nothing else? Good, we are leaving in 45 minutes. Get ready and think of breakfast."
At 2240 five Valentia's took off from RAF Duxford heading west then SSW.