Operation Cooney

Operation Cooney
Part of Normandy Landings
Date 8–10 June 1944 Location Brittany, France Result Tactically undecisive Strategic Allied victory
Belligerents
Free French Forces	Germany

On 7 June 1944, 297 Squadron took part in Operation Cooney by providing 2 of the 9 aircraft of 38 Group that were used to deploy elements of the 4th Free French Parachute Battalion or 2eme RCP (Regiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes) also known as 4th SAS.

These men were to disrupt enemy communications between West Brittany and the remainder of France, and in all 58 Free French soldiers were dropped on no fewer than 18 undefended drop zones between St. Malo and Vannes.

Breaking into eighteen three-man or five-man SAS teams. The teams scattered throughout Brittany destroying railroad targets. As a sign they had passed through they tied railroad ties around trees.

Some raiders then joined the base established by the Dingson team in Saint-Marcel, Morbihan or the base established by the Samwest team in Duault, Côtes d'Armor. Part of Overlord.

See also

• Operation Overlord
• Operation Dingson
• Operation Samwest
• Operation Lost

Notes

• Henry Corta (1921–1998), a Free French SAS lieutenant veteran, les bérets rouges (red berets), Paris, 1952, amicale des anciens parachutistes SAS,

• Henry Corta, Qui ose gagne (Who dares wins), Vincennes, 1997, service historique de l'armée de terre. ISBN 978-2863231036

Dramatization

• The Longest Day, a 1962 american film produced by Darryl F. Zanuck :

3 Free French SAS paratroopers, 1 woman (Janine Boitard) and 1 Resistance fighter against 2 german soldiers on the railroad near the bridge before the explosion.