Brits in Africa

British Special Air Service (SAS) troops boarding a RAF Bristol Bombay during training in Egypt.  The SAS, founded by British Army officer David Sterling, would parachute behind enemy lines to combat Field Marshall Rommel’s Afrika Korps during WW2.  Parachute missions were initially met with disaster for the SAS in North Africa, so subsequent missions were often carried out on land utilizing long range jeeps and trucks.  

Sterling was eventually captured by German Colonel Hans Von Luck, who operated mostly on the southern most flank of the Germans throughout the African campaign.  Colonel Luck fought the war in a very gentlemanly manner, he would maintain radio communications with his adversary, swapping information on the status of POW’s and often making supply trades.  Luck and his British counterpart also agreed to a 5pm ceasefire every day, where no shots could be fired until the following day.