The following is a list of known Special Air Service (SAS) operations. Second World War Operations The Special Air Service began life in July 1941, the brainchild of Lieutenant David Stirling of No. 8 (Guards) Commando. His idea was for small teams of parachute trained soldiers to operate behind enemy lines to gain intelligence, destroy enemy aircraft and attack their supply and reinforcement routes. The SAS carried out this role until the end of the war serving in a number of theatres and campaigns. By the end of the Second World War on 8 May 1945, the SAS had suffered 330 casualties, but had killed or wounded 7,733 and captured 23,000 of their enemies. North Africa Operation Crusader, initial unsuccessful raid. Operation Squatter, 16/17 November 1941, raid on forward Axis airfields in North Africa. Operation Green Room Operation Agreement Operation Bigamy, September 1942, raid on the Port of Benghazi. Operation Palmyra Mediterranean Operation Albumen, 7/8 June 1942, 4/5 July 1943, raids on Axis airfields in Crete. Operation Husky, July 1943, Allied invasion of Sicily. Operation Chestnut, July 1943, raids supporting Sicily invasion. Operation Narcissus, July 1943, capture of lighthouse in Sicily. Operation Avalanche, Allied invasion of Italy. Begonia/Jonquil, October 1943, rescue of POWs in Italy. Operation Candytuft, October 1943, raid on railway targets in Italy. Operation Maple Driftwood 1944, raid on railway targets in Italy. Operation Baobab, January 1944, raid on rail targets serving Anzio, Italy. Operation Galia, December 1944 – February 1945, 34 men from 3 Squadron, 2 SAS parachuted into northern Italy, conducted operations alongside local resistance fighters. Northwest Europe The below operations were overseen by the brigade formation known as Special Air Service Troops: Operation Overlord, 6 June 1944, Allied invasion of Northwest Europe. Operation Titanic, 6 June 1944. Operation Nelson, June 1944, operation in the Orleans Gap. Operation Samwest, 6 June 1944, 4th SAS Battalion (Free French) dropped in Côtes-du-Nord (Brittany). Operation Grog /Grog, 4 SAS in conjunction with Operations Dingson and Samwest 5 June 1944. Operation Dingson, 6 June 1944, 4th SAS Battalion (Free French) dropped to Morbihan (Brittany). Operation Bulbasket, 1st SAS mission, although partly successful operation 6 June 1944. Operation Cooney, 8 June 1944, 18 teams of the 4th SAS Battalion (58 Free French) dropped to Brittany to break communications ways. Operation Houndsworth, June 1944. Operation Lost, 23 June – July 1944, British and Free French operation in Brittany. Operation Swan II, 1944.