History of War

BLAIR ‘PADDY’ MAYNE, DSO AND THREE BARS

Source:   Below: ‘Paddy’ Mayne wrenched this compass from an enemy aircraft with his bare hands during the SAS’s first successful raid in Libya, on 14 December 1941. His comrade Jim Almonds believed he could attach it to their jeeps to improve desert navigation. This is typical of the innovation and adaptation that has become a hallmark of the special forces.  

Portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Robert ‘Paddy’ Mayne in WWII, wearing his SAS cap

Below: Lieutenant Colonel Paddy Mayne and Lieutenant John Scott used a jeep similar to this to tackle a German ambush and rescue trapped SAS men

The men of the Special Air Service knew they were in for a fight when they drove into northern Germany in the second week of

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