The History of 30 Assault Unit

by Cabell, Craig

• ISBN13: 9781844159505
• ISBN10: 1844159507
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-01-19
• Publisher: Pen & Sword

Summary

The Second World War spawned a plethora of crack special forces units (Long Range Desert Group, SAS, SBS, Phantom and Commandos) but 30 Assault Unit remains, even today, more secretive and exclusive than the others. Formed by Ian Fleming, who was working for Naval Intelligence and went on to create Commander James Bond, 30 AU's mission was to penetrate and operate behind enemy lines, capture by whatever means necessary vital intelligence and feed it back to London where it could be assimilated and acted upon.

This crack team of commandos included mavericks such as Patrick Dalzel-Job (generally regarded as the model for Fleming's fictional secret agent 007), and less well known figures, despite their conspicuous bravery, as Captain Huntingdon-Whiteley, Captain Martin-Smith. Lieutenant Commander Curtis and Lieutenant McFee.

The author has trawled archives and interviewed veterans in order to piece together the thrilling story and superb record of this elusive special forces unit who fought with such distinction. The result is a splendid piece of little known World War Two history

Author Biography

Craig Cabell has been a freelance writer for 20 years, writing most notably for The Independent, various tabloids and the specialist press. For five years he was an inhouse reporter with Focus, the Ministry of Defence house journal. He is the author of 13 previous biographies and history books including Frederick Forsyth - A Matter of Protocol, The Authorised Biography, The Kray Brothers, Dennis Wheatley - Churchill's Storyteller and Ian Fleming's Secret War.

He lives in London with his wife and three children.