D-Day - The Forgotten SAS Operation 

In 1980, while I was in the U.S. Army, my unit was taking part in the annual REFORGER exercise in Germany. My crew was assigned to support 21 SAS (a TA SAS regiment based in Hereford). At one point a British DH Beaver had a mission to drop several of the remaining dummies that they called "Gingerbread Men". The next day I was talking to the pilot, and he told me one of the gingers had hung up in the top of a tall pine tree. We were going to try and rescue it but got reassigned before we could get to it. Would've made a great souvenir!

No doubt the SAS efforts saved lives and enabled the Normandy landings to be that much more successful. Great video, Mark.

Thank-you Dr Felton for keeping the memories alive of all the brave men and women 🙏💐🇬🇧🇨🇦🇺🇲

One group which seems never to get a mention is the Combined Operations Pilotage Party. It was their job to go in at night and survey all of the beaches so that each could be assessed for there suitability for the landing of troops and tanks. The had to do this on beaches guarded by the Germans and without leaving a trace of what the did because it could alert the Germans. So effectively they were the first troops on the beaches used for D-Day. On D-Day itself they sat in their kayaks with torches forming lanes to guide the landing crafts in. In several case some of these men lost their lives when hit by these landing crafts.

We have one of the few remaining Rupert dummies in a museum here. It had been buried in a bunker at a former RAF base and was forgotten until the bunker was unearthed during a construction project in the 1990s.😉👍

My uncle Eilert landed on Utah Beach. The only thing he ever said about it was that a bullet passed so close to his ear he felt it!

Many thanks to the brave men who risked it all and especially to those who lost it all for our freedom on this day many years ago.

Thank you for the post. The clip of the Eisenhower speech and the bravery of the SAS troopers is inspiring. 🇺🇸 🇬🇧🇨🇦

I have so much respect for the American, Canadian, and British troopers! Our countries each share a very important history together. 🇺🇲🇨🇦🇬🇧

Every soldier had a story. May they all be remembered forever. ❤️ from 🇨🇦. Thank you Dr. Felton, always top marks. 👍

In 1959 when my grandad started at DuPont, the man who hired him Gord Richards was an intelligence officer with the British commandos who's job it was was to destroy the artillery batteries on Dieppe, they were fired upon and Richards lost three fingers on his hand and got out on the last evacuation plane. Thanks for the special video on this special anniversary. I loved the Rupert cartoon as a kid.

Hats off to those brave men.

I am sitting in my yard right now enjoying a cup of coffee. The freedom we all all have now was paid for by the sacrifices of so many allied soldiers 70 years ago. The SAS performed brilliantly throughout the war. Many thanks to all the cooks, truck drives, and soldiers that put a uniform on to liberate the continent . Heroes, one and all.

Yet another fascinating story from WW2 and told by the best to do so, ofcourse, Mark Felton! For the incredible brave SAS men who knew that it was a likely suicide mission, rest in peace🙏.

D-Day is one of the greatest military operations in history

I read an obituary a few years back of one of these SAS Troopers. He was still a teenager at the time and was so slight that he was nearly blown off course when he jumped out. He was saved by the sheer weight of the technical equipment he was carrying.

Thank you Dr Felton for uploading. My mind is focused today on D Day landings. I even, though born 4 decades after D day, feel a great debit to the men who fought and died and those that survived. My history never ever forget their and their families sacrifice.

Just finished watching Band of Brothers two days ago. I feel like many movies glorify war and violence, but that show demonstrated the true horrors of war. I’m forever thankful for all those that fought to bring an end to WW2. Let’s hope for everlasting peace.

Thank you for alerting the world to the existence of these few who gave it their all. They have been remembered.

I admire the brave men who parachuted into the night in Normandy. God bless you.

Ho yeah! Something for D-Day Anniversary! Thank you, Dr. Felton!

I don't think WW2 will ever not be interesting. Thanks Dr. Felton!

Maybe it was just Hollywood "overdoing it" a bit, but in the movie "The Longest Day", they did show the Rupert Paratroopers, but they were made of rubber, a scarce commodity at the time, and much more detailed and lifelike than the Ruperts you showed. I believe the one's you showed were probably true to real thing, the details in the Hollywood version would have been unnecessary in a night diversionary operation. Thanks for highlighting this seemingly small, but still very important phase of the Overlord operation.

Mark, excellent video as always! I fear many in the UK and the USA have forgotten the sacrifices made in many wars of freedom.

Thank God for these men, their bravery and sacrifice gives us the freedom we enjoy today. Truly the Greatest Generation.

Heroes Never forget Greatest generation Thank you Mr Felton for telling their stories and making sure these brave people are never forgotten.

My father passed away on the 53rd anniversary of the Normandy Invasion in 1997. He was with the 15th Army Air Corps in Italy, maintaining the Radar systems on B-24 Liberators.

i remember watching "The Longest Day", where the British mentioned the Rupert paradummies. maybe for the 80th anniversary, you could make a video on the clicking crickets.

These soldier toy paratroops were shown and described in the movie,the longest day,with an all star cast,including British actors.Rufus had firecrackers tied to around his waist,and would go off on contact to the ground.Also,Rufus was where G.I.joe toy came from.THANKS MARK,OLE BUDDY!

My great Uncle was Wounded as a Paratrooper, his uniform and medals are shown at a military museum in Germantown Ohio. If anyone is in the area and want to see them, pretty cool stuff at that museum.

A GRAND anniversary for a GRAND collection of international D-Day heroes!

First, remember these mentioned in the film: The Longest Day! The ingenious way that a few men could with recordings confused and distracted the defenders showed how much went into Overlord's preparation, which was psychological, and God only knows how many lives were saved! Well done, Dr Mark!

You are all gentlemen and scholars being here as early as you all are. Thank you Dr. Felton.

However, troops from many other countries participated in D-Day and the Battle of Normandy: Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Poland.

Rest in peace gentlemen; the world owes you more than you could ever know. Thank you Dr. Felton; excellent video as always.

They gave their lives so others landing on D Day could keep their lives and save others. Like the Cpl from my SAS Sqn that was lost in Afghanistan some years ago now. THANK YOU to ALL of them.

Whenever I see a new Mark Felton video appear in my RU-vid feed, before I even click on it, the intro music starts playing in my head. Anyone else? 🙂

Truly heroic SAS commando's, who's selfless actions saved no doubt many lives. Yet another piece of little known history revealed, thank you so much mr Fellton.

DDay, 6 June 1944 Should be remembered Always. None of us would be alive and here now but for the supreme bravery of all our people.

In the souvenir shops of St Mere Eglise in Normandy in France, they sell Rupert dolls from "The Longest Day" (1962) for 1200 Euro, which was therefore a fantasy doll.

I was hoping you would upload a video for D-day, and you have not disappointed!

My husband’s uncle was in D-Day 3, I can only imagine how scared a 18 year old boy was, my dad was in the Aleutian Islands, one of his brothers was in Iceland and the other was in Italy. Thank God for these brave boys.

Thanks again for another great adventure into history, the SAS were some brave Lads indeed, knowing full well what would happen if caught. I had family who fought in the South Pacific as well as in Europe, D-day is a good day to remember all. 👍

Thank you, Professor/Dr. Felton, yet another amazing work of research and in celebration and remembrance of D-Day! It is absolutely mind-boggling, how so much work and intelligence went into the Normandie invasion, and how much went into deceiving the Wehrmacht, in order to get our troops onto the beachheads and through the defenses, without either being completely stopped cold, or thrown back into the sea as was What happened with Dunkirk.

Dr Felton I salute you sir! Great original content as always.

My dad was involved in DD day ! He actually come out without a scratch! God bless his soul

Just finished watching The Longest Day. Thanks Rupert and kudos to Dr. Felton!

I remember the Ruperts had a bit part in the movie "The Longest Day". The movie Ruperts were miniature figures with uniforms and facial features. I never understood why they'd go to the trouble of making such realistic miniature dummies. Thanks for giving more information and the real story.

Thank you Veterans, for your service

G'day Mark, Thank you for shining a well-deserved light on the Ruperts and the Titanic operation. Each year, even down here in Australia, at selected cenotaphs and memorial sites we too pay tribute to the US, UK and Canadians who undertook the most formidable military tactic of a frontal assault on the enemy from the sea. As General Eisenhower eluded to the effort being one of, "... these united nations..." he was right. The personnel of other Allied countries also took a relatively tiny role in the D-Day landings at Normandy, even though they weren't as visible as troops from other countries. Apart from Australians and New Zealanders who flew in the skies above the landing grounds and their approaches, effectively keeping what was left of the Luftwaffe away from the action. There were also small detachments of specialist Australian troops seconded to British units, as I discovered when talking to a couple of elderly, ex-Army members of my RSL Club (like Legion clubs) who I'd noticed, on ANZAC Day, wearing European campaign medals and decorations. We should all genuinely salute those brave boys who fought and sacrificed on those bloody beaches and hedgerows beyond. Because it was so successful, I think some have, historically, glossed over the possible dire consequences had the Normandy landings failed. So, we still, today, owe a huge vote of thanks to the thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen plus the spies; all the women in uniform and the 'armies' of civilian workers in all Allied countries. Together, they forced the ultimate surrender of Hitler's Nazis and brought peace to Europe. All these years later, we have, sadly, learned how fragile that European peace, finally, can be as now one man in Russia has decided to emulate the worst of Stalin's brutal excesses. Military technology changes but despots never do. If that little man in the Kremlin wants to really imitate Stalin... then he should drop dead. 😉 Cheers, Bill H.

A suggestion for one of your films . During the second world war, Italy, a group of SAS prisoners managed to walk to safety using in part the services of a specially trained dog (British pet of course). All wrapped up in security and now probably the mist of time. The pet was returned to its family after the war but had some peculiar behaviour traits. Got the Dicken Medal. It is a story that has really intrigued me for decades particularly given the SAS experience in the Malaya emergency with dogs being unfavourable although of course in Afghan they became invaluable and definitely in favour again. You do great programmes. Thanks

D-Day content on D-Day ! Great stuff! Thank you!

So basically eight SAS chaps parachuted into enemy territory, immediately commenced making a lot of noise and attracted thousands of German troops to their location. I’m amazed they managed to get into the aeroplanes dropping them as their balls must have been that enormous. RIP to such brave brave men.

This is an AWESOME story. Thank you for posting it.

In glorious memory of those who fought and died for freedom. God bless all of them and their families on this special day.

They should really do a Band of Brother's-esque series about this SAS mission, as the British (and Commonwealth) offensive on the Western Front is often over looked by popular media nowadays.

Thank you Mark Felton for all your great WWII content :)

Brilliant video. God bless them all

There was a huge effort to create fictional divisions, both material and admninistrative. These and state of the Atlantic Wall with tricked German concentration around Pas-De-Calais minimized negative effect of spread airborne landings.

That outro from Eisenhower, a reflection on today's current events? I believe so. Thank you Mr Felton.

Many of your videos are interesting sidelights of history that none the less played a large role in history and today was a perfect example D Day is thought of as the troops wading ashore against incredible odds, but it was the behind the scenes work of the SAS that helped ensure success. I never knew much about this part of the story but in 5 minutes I learned a lot

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and his Beach Jumpers would make a great subject for one of your videos, as he was deeply involved in all of the D-day deception efforts and the story of the Beach Jumpers is even less well known than Operation Titanic.

Off to Normandy tomorrow, I will throw a pebble in the sea for the heroic lads.

6 JUN 44 🇺🇸 Remember always... Salute!

Big day of remembering for my family. We all love your work. Thanks.

Truly to day is an important day one which we must never forget.

Another brilliant and informative video by Mark Felton. Just can't get enough of this Chanel. I've always been interested in ww2 mainly because my father was in the war. He was a lance corporal in the coldsteam guards, aged 19 on the beaches of Dunkirk part of the BEF and then went back in 1944 as part of the failed market garden operation, and was wounded and caught at Arnhem, then spent the rest of the war as a pow in Germany. He told me many stories of what went on, some funny some horrendous. Unfortunately he's not around anymore but I'll never forget what he told me and what those boys went through. He would have loved this Chanel and I'm sure he would have spoken highly of Dr Felton and his knowledge.

A great video and a perfect day for remembrance. Thanks. Sadly, many people will just look at today as another day in their lives and not realize just how many gave up their lives today, for freedom.

Facinating as always Dr Felton, I had no idea the allies used Ruperts as a diversion! Thank you

We will remember them

Hello there! Would you believe that we saw your Dr. Felton in the WW2 Magazine in Czechia today? What a lovely article they wrote about you. Thank you for your work and keep it up!

Thank you Mr. Felton. Your videos are always extra informative and well made. I look forward to every one of them. Great job.

Thank you for your wonderful research Dr. Felton!

Undoubtedly many would find these videos boring and irrelevant to today's world. However Mark is putting together a real work of history film art. The detailed research is paired with easily understandable narration and some rare video footage. I have studied the war my father took part in as an 8th Airforce crew member for many years. I've seen a lot of documentaries. Mark's investigations have filled many gaps in those works and cleared up many areas of confusion. These videos will stand the test of time. Especially as we seem to be entering a time when reading text is being abandoned in favor of video presentation. Thanks in part to Mark, understand of this crucially important world event will remain available for those who care to look.

There’s a scene in Longest Day where the Germans discovered the nature of the Rupert’s. Quite well done.

I absolutely loved this video because I learnt about Operation Fortitude and I have ALWAYS been looking for more great content on that (and other similar ones) and this was a TREAT! Thank you so much! 😅

Another excellent and most interesting video. I love this channel. Cheers from New England!

Thank you Dr. Felton for providing little known information and presenting it in such a great fashion cant wait for your next video!

Greetings from South Korea. The whole base remembered this day by having athletics all day💪

These videos remind me of a really high quality WW2 show that was on Discovery a long time ago,don't remember the name but incredible to watch and informative like these. Thank you.

I learnt of the dummies from the classic movie The Longest Day. In the movie the dummies are highly detailed 3ft models in the shape of a soldier, c/w eyes nose hair etc. Now thanks to Dr Felton, I know now that the dummies are crudely and cheaply made of burlap sacks. Not needed to be highly detailed as they are made to be dropped in the dark.

I thought Rupert was the nickname squaddies gave to wet-behind-the-ears officers straight out of Sandhurst? Perhaps it is a more recent thing - but it would have been funny if that was the reason they called these dummies Rupert! (Sandhurst is a well known - at least in the UK - military training facility).

I recently completed the WWII unit of my grade 10 Canadian History class, and once again, you have provided some excellent material for me to share with my classes. Many thanks, Mark!

Brilliant diversion! Also brilliant video. Thank you, Dr Felton.

Great video Dr Felton, thank you for keeping our boys memory alive!

Thanks. I hadn't heard this story before. An uncle landed at Utah Beach and later was attached to Patton's force sent to break the seige at the Bulge. Patton told the troops that he was prepared "to pave the way with dog tags." Grim times.

I'd love to see an accurate movie made from this Operation. Near-certain suicide. They deserve more recognition

Thank You Dr. Mark Felton.

Thanks again for another eye opening series Dr. Felton. We must never forget the sacrifices others made for our Freedom today. ❤

Love the timing, History, and presentation. Outstanding as always Dr. Mark Felton.

Ingenious! No one coordinated better than the Allies in WW2. God bless all the men on the landing beaches that day!

Unbelievable how such a small number of "Ruperts" were deployed, but how large their presence loomed...

Yes lest we forget those that gave their lives for us. Great story as ever Mark. Love your channel

Brave men and women. Every one a hero. General Eisenhower as he wanted to be called even after his presidency was the right man for the job.

Thank you for all your hard work. I am 66 and wonder if anyone on here remember the programme All Our Yesterdays.

Yet again a great, not to mention very instructive, video! Well done Mark!

This is truly the meaning of duty and sacrifice.

One of the few topics I actually knew about. Thank you Longest Day!

Small correction right at the beginning: the beach and airborne landings on June 6 1944 were Operation Neptune, just one part of the much, much larger Operation Overlord that lasted until the liberation of Paris and the retreat of German forces across the Seine River at the end of August.

Thank you for the recognition of the efforts/sacrifice of the brave.