| Operation Howard | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Western Front | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United Kingdom |
 Germany | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Paddy Mayne |
Wolfgang Erdmann | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Elements of the 7th Parachute Division | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
5 killed 19 wounded 11 captured or missing 6 jeeps lost[1] |
200 + killed or wounded 400 captured[2] | ||||||
Operation Howard was a British special forces operation by B and C Squadrons, 1st Special Air Service led by Paddy Mayne that took place from 6 to 29 April 1945. It was to provide reconnaissance for the Canadian 4th Armoured Division in its advance towards Oldenburg in north-western Germany. The operation was hampered by German ambushes and boggy ground which the Jeeps found hard going. The operation succeeded in its objective but suffered a number of casualties.
The operation was notable for an action where many felt that Paddy Mayne should have won the Victoria Cross.[3]
- ^ Bradford & Dillon 1987, pp. 248–54.
- ^ Ross 2011, p. 181.
- ^ Macintyre 2016, p. 300.