Operation Details

Benson

'Benson' was a British special forces operation by the Belgian Independent Parachute Company (5th Special Air Service) near Estrée St Denis in France (28 August/1 September 1944).

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The task of this six-man group, under the command of Capitaine Gilbert Sadi-Kirschen, was to collect intelligence information about German troop dispositions and movements in the area.

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The men of the party suffered several injuries as they landed by parachute and, after making contact with the local French resistance unit, were taken to a doctor who had on the previous day stolen from a German officer a map containing detailed information about German dispositions and strengths along the line of the Somme river. The party became involved in a firefight with a German patrol that stumbled over it, but broke off the action successfully and transmitted to headquarters the gist of its information.

Basic Overview

Theater

Nations Involved

Protagonists Antagonists

Formation

Protagonists