did believe that on the whole the unit would be able to fulfil its mission of providing close tactical support and training for any parties resisting an American invasion. The Waffen-SS unit was to be inserted into Ireland by parachute using a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 'Condor' once the American invasion began. In addition, as part of Osprey, consideration was given to using selected regular 'Brandenburgers' and two captured Irish Prisoners of War recruited from Friesack Camp. The unit and plan was not put to the test in Ireland because the feared American invasion of Éire territory did not occur. Despite being cancelled this mission did mark the first entrance of the SS's intelligence service, the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) into Irish affairs. Involvement of the IRA There was no involvement or prior knowledge of Operation Osprey by the IRA in Ireland, although it is almost certain that Frank Ryan, an ex-IRA volunteer captured by Franco's forces and handed over to the Abwehr, was aware of the mission. His input is thought to have been minimal as ill health on his part had prevented him from taking part in Operation Whale – the precursor to Osprey. References Further information and sources Mark M. Hull, Irish Secrets. German Espionage in Wartime Ireland 1939–1945, 2003, Enno Stephan, Spies in Ireland, 1963, (reprint) Abwehr operations involving Ireland Operation Green (Ireland) Operation Lobster Operation Lobster I Operation Seagull (Ireland) Operation Seagull I Operation Seagull II Operation Whale Operation Dove (Ireland) Operation Sea Eagle Plan Kathleen Operation Mainau Operation Innkeeper See also The Emergency (Ireland) Plan W Oskar Metzke IRA Abwehr World War II – Main article on IRA Nazi links Osprey Osprey Western European theatre of World War II Osprey Independent Ireland in World War II