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Preview
  • SAS Shadow Raiders

  • The Ultra-Secret Mission That Changed the Course of WWII
  • By: Damien Lewis
  • Narrated by: Matt Bates
  • Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (331 ratings)

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SAS Shadow Raiders

By: Damien Lewis
Narrated by: Matt Bates
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Summary

The incredible story of the radar wars: Britain's most secret battle.

In the winter of 1941 an alien-seeming object was captured in a death-defying dash by an RAF reconnaissance pilot flying a lone unarmed Spitfire across the French coast. Balanced upon the cliffs near Le Havre was what appeared to be a giant convex dish, directed across the Channel at the war-torn British coastline.

With Britain's cities being pounded by fearsome bombing raids, teams of experts studied the photograph worriedly. Might the dish constitute a highly secret form of radar - one that had the capacity to tip the balance of the war decisively in the enemy's favour? If so, Nazi Germany would have leapfrogged British technology many-fold.

A top-secret mission was devised to steal what had become known as the 'Wurzburg Dish' after Enigma intercepted coded German messages. Appropriately christened Operation Biting, this was to be the first-ever Allied raid using airborne forces. Commanded by legendary Major John 'Johnny' Frost, he demanded blind loyalty from his band of piratical raiders. 'A wild crew...they looked horrible,' he admitted. Each and every rehearsal had proved disastrous; it was a suicide mission in all but name.

On the French coast agents of the Special Operations Executive - Churchill's shadowy ministry for ungentlemanly warfare - risked all to map the target's defences. At the 11th hour, two unwelcome additions joined Frosts' crew. One was a shadowy German cloaked in mystery, the other a British radar specialist who could not be allowed to fall into enemy hands.

Relying on files declassified for the purposes of writing this book, eyewitness testimony and working with the families of key figures involved, Lewis reveals an untold epic of daring, ruthless rule-breaking and ferocity, coupled with bravery and ingenuity beyond measure. The results of Operation Biting would resonate throughout the war and beyond, changing the course of 20th-century history.

©2019 Damien Lewis (P)2019 Quercus Editions Limited
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What listeners say about SAS Shadow Raiders

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Very informative

a very good book. an insight into the formation of the SAS & the first couple of missions they participated in.

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Excellent derring-do!

I confess I like this kind of history; but this is very well researched, engagingly written and brilliantly narrated. If you like wartime excitement- you know who you are - this is for you!

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Absolutely superb listen

Superbly researched well paced and insightful - if you read one book about the two early SAS operations covered here read this one .

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Gripping story

Well written and compelling reading, this recounting of a raid by SAS in WW2 is edge of the seat stuff. Highly recommend

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A joy to listen too

An important reminder of the bravery of so few for so many.
Also revealing to learn of the importance of the Scottish Regiments jocks who were pivotal in its success and how this changed the outcome of the war.

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Never forget

A very good book about the heroism of a group of men in the Second World War. Very well written and narrated.

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Fantastic listen

I love listening to these books, the author always finds a way to get the story over in an interesting and entertaining way while also doing a great job of honouring the memories and stories of the people who completed these missions success or fail but they are an important part of our history and need to be remembered.

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Awesome Book

Absolutely loved it from start to finish, packed with facts and stats, really makes you appreciate what those young lads went through, if you are into WW2 Trivia this book is a must read or listen, the book does carry quite a few photos.

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Well executed, just as the book's content.

A thoroughly thrilling description of the first raids of British special forces in the first tentative forays into occupied Europe.

Discovered this title through the "Warfare" Podcast and genuinely couldn't stop listening to this and found it thoroughly fascinating.

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Can not put this down

Another brilliant book by Damien Lewis, I love reading these SAS stories, the history of the Regiment is brilliant, proper rough tough, intelligent and humorous men who faced fear and in many cases laughed in the face of danger, this is the fourth book from Damien that I have read, hard books to put down once started.

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2 people found this helpful