Operation Frankton: WWII's Most Dangerous Mission
From Bloomin' Legends with Johnny Vaughan & Gavin Woods · 43:18
Show by Global
Is this the most dangerous mission of the Second World War?December, 1942 - Britain launches 10 men into freezing winter seas in five canvas canoes, tasking them with paddling 100 miles into Nazi-occupied France.Only two made it home.This is Bloomin' Legends: The Impossible Missions of the Second World War. Over six episodes, Johnny Vaughan and Gavin “The Woodman” Woods tell the story of the Second World War like you've never heard before - through six impossible missions so ridiculous, so ludicrous, they never should have worked.Episode two: Operation Frankton A.K.A The Cockleshell HeroesWhat You'll Hear in This Episode:🛶 The ultimate recruitment ad - Why the Royal Marines were hunting for men who were “indifferent to personal safety” and whose expectations of a long life were “severely limited”.👨🏼Major ‘Blondie’ Hasler - The eccentric, canoe-obsessed mastermind with an epic moustache who practically volunteered his men for certain death.🌊 100 miles in the pitch black - Launching from a submarine into five-foot ocean waves in mid-December, paddling by night, and lying dead-still as human flotsam beneath German searchlights.🚫 Hitler’s Commando Order - The brutal fate awaiting the captured canoeists behind enemy lines, and the terrifying stakes of being caught.💣 Four hours in Bordeaux harbour - How two surviving canoes slipped under the hulls of enemy ships to plant limpet mines completely undetected.🐔 “The chicken is good” - A 100 mile escape on foot through occupied France with the help of the French Resistance, safe houses, and a bizarre BBC radio code.🏃♂️Marine Sparks’ great escape (from the British) - Why one survivor had to give his own military guards the slip in London just to prove to his Mum he wasn’t dead!If you love daring raids, stories from the Second World War, eccentric heroes and unbelievable true tales, this episode of Bloomin' Legends is for you.Got a WWII legend you want us to cover? Send it to: [email protected] us on TikTok & Instagram: @BloominLegendsWatch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bloominlegendsListen to all episodes on Global Player, download the app, or visit www.globalplayer.comBloomin' Legends – WWII: The Impossible Missions is a Global productionExecutive Producer – Adem WatermanSenior Producer – Ben FaircloughLead Producer – Elena GuthrieProducers – Cassie Merrit, Jasmine Feldman, Sam Johnson & Onyi OlisaNew episodes are released every Wednesday & Sunday. Subscribe to never miss an episode!
More episodes of Bloomin' Legends with Johnny Vaughan & Gavin Woods
More episodes
- WWII's Animal Soldiers - Bears fought in the war?!
- Introducing - Bloomin' Legends: The Impossible Missions
- Operation Postmaster: Churchill’s boldest WWII mission
- Introducing "WWII: The Impossible Missions”
- Halloween Special: Ghost Armies, Ghost Planes & a Ghost Ship
- The Extra Legendary Bit: Public Executions, Coppers & Roland the Farter
- Diogenes: Our First Philosopher, and He Lived Like a Dog
- The Extra Legendary Bit: The Riot Dog of Athens & a Dog Poo Landmine
- Captain John Smith: The Man Behind Jamestown and Pocahontas
- The Extra Legendary Bit: Weaponised slurry, police hoodwinking & generational Scouse blaggers
PodSearch is a free, independent podcast search engine. Read about PodSearch, the privacy policy or contact us.