Operation Fahrenheit facts for kids
Operation Fahrenheit was a secret mission carried out by brave British Commando soldiers during World War II. It happened on the night of November 11-12, 1942. A small group of soldiers from special units called No. 12 Commando and No. 62 Commando took part.
The main goal of this mission was to gather important information. The soldiers wanted to capture German soldiers from a communications building. This building, called a signals station, was located at Pointe de Plouezec on the northern coast of Brittany, France.
Contents
Planning the Mission
Who Was Involved?
The raiding party was led by Captain O B 'Micky' Rooney. He was a leader from No. 6 Commando. Six other experienced soldiers, known as Non-commissioned officers, joined him from the same unit. Two more soldiers from No. 62 Commando also joined the team.
Journey to the Target
The team started their journey from Dartmouth, England. They traveled on November 11 in a fast boat called a Motor Torpedo Boat (MTB 344). These boats were small and quick, perfect for secret missions.
The Attack Begins
Facing Challenges
When the commandos reached the French coast, they found a big problem. The cliffs near their target were full of hidden land mines. This made it very dangerous to move around. Captain Rooney and one of his men carefully checked out the area. They looked at the signals station and a nearby small concrete fort, called a pillbox.
The signals station was protected by barbed wire fences and guards, known as sentries. The pillbox, however, was empty.
The Assault on the Station
Captain Rooney decided to attack the signals station directly. He split his team into three smaller groups. They moved quietly and got very close to the barbed wire. As Rooney was getting ready to throw a hand grenade, two German sentries heard them.
Before the sentries could react, they were quickly dealt with. The commandos used a hand grenade and machine gun fire. Two more German soldiers came out of the signals station and were also engaged. The remaining German soldiers inside the building started shooting back.
Deciding to Withdraw
The commandos realized that more German soldiers might arrive soon. So, they decided it was safer to leave. They successfully got back to their boat. The team then returned safely to Dartmouth.
