Operation Pistol was the code name for a Special Air Service mission during the Second World War, with the objective to parachute four teams from 'A' Squadron 2nd Special Air Service behind the German lines around the Alsace–Lorraine region of France. Once on the ground they would attempt to disrupt the road and rail networks between Metz and Nancy and the approach to the Rhine plain. One team, because of weather conditions over the drop zone, returned to England, another team landed in the middle of a German unit and the other two teams achieved some success before returning to Allied lines in early October. Plan The 51 men from 'A' Squadron 2nd Special Air Service (SAS) were to leave RAF Keevil, Wiltshire by Shorts Stirling aircraft on the 15 September. They were divided into four groups, to be parachuted onto four different drop zones. Once on the ground the plan called for each of the groups to be divided into two smaller groups to cover a larger area. The 'A1' group were given the area south west of Saint-Avold to work in and the 'A2' group the Bénestroff area. The 'B1' group would be west of Ingwiller and the 'B2' group the Sarreguemines area. The 'C1' group were given the area around the Saverne gap to work in and the 'C2' group the area south west of Sarrebourg. The 'D1' group the roads between Gérardmer and Colmar and the 'D2' group the roads between Bussang and Thann. Mission The 2nd Special Air Service groups all left from RAF Keevil on the 15 September 1944. The SAS were divided into four groups 'A'–'D', to be parachuted onto four different drop zones. A group 'A' group landed from their proposed drop zone, on top of a German position. Because of this and attempts to evade capture the group was divided into three. 'A1' now consisted of Lieutenant Darwall and three men. Sergeant Williams the commander of the original 'A2' group had two men. A third group of men who were the last to leave the aircraft had unfortunately lost all their equipment hiding from the German search parties. Both radios carried by Group A were damaged on landing leaving them out of contact with their headquarters and the resupply planes that were later sent out. The 'A2' group on the 18 September destroyed some telegraph poles and on the 19 September