Operation Pistol was a British operation performed by 2 SAS during World War 2 launching 51 SAS soldiers into the German territory of Alsace Lorraine 80 miles ahead of the American forces, running alongside Operation Loyton. Of those 51 soldiers, SQMS Jack Alcock commanded a four man party from his C3 group and this is the story of his incredible bravery that awarded him the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star. Jack's group parachuted in to France in extreme weather conditions lacking vital supplies of food and suffering the theft of their radio receiver they fought through enemy territory seeking shelter with sympathetic locals along the way experiencing a close call with the Gestapo at one farmstead to eventually reach the front line position of the American Fourth Armourerd Division near Arracourt where he was debriefed by Colonel Bruce C Clarke of Command A. Jack later returned to France with his son to retrace his footsteps for this incredible memoir of determination, courage and tenacity. AUTHOR: Graham is a child of the armed forces. He was born in Aldershot military hospital in 1947. His father was a regular soldier between 1936 and 1965. As such Graham is familiar with military life. He almost joined the army himself after having attended a Sandhurst Military College taster week-end. But an inspirational art teacher changed all of that as he became a teacher of Art and Design. Graham has taught in the UK, Queensland Australia and Canada. At his last school he taught a relative of Lord John Manners of 2SAS. He wrote this book after his father's death in 1997. 12 b/w illustrations