A P P E N D I X 'B'.
LESSONS.
1. Care in chosing D.Z. is essential, the wrong landing place
nearly ruined the operation.
2. Relying on R.V. at D.Z. with another stick, no use. No contact
was made at all with Lt. Sauro and party O.S.S., as he was dropped on a
different D.Z. at a different time.
3. If possible no arms should be packed in containers. My carbine
got lost among rations in a container and took 5 precious minutes to find.
4. At first we were over cautious, moving only by night, and cross-
country. Later we moved by day along roads and were twice waved at by German
truck drivers.
5. Security behind lines. Enemy security for anti parachute troops
poor.
6. Need of a radio, but restricts movement, Valuable air targets
wasted through lack of information channels.
7. Interpreter essential. Cpl. Nicolich did invaluable work.
8. Threatening farmers for food no use. Be kind but careful.
9. Necessity of changing houses frequently, don't get "Well in" at
a farm and stay too long. Locals talk.
10. Spreading rumour is easy to do. Germans reckoned there were
4,000 parachutists in Gran Sasso area. We told many people how strong we were.
Worried the Germans.
11. If possible far quicker and easier to procure guides than to rely
entirely on Map. All farmers willing to help in this way.
12. Easy to pose as a German if necessary. Many Italians ignorant
and easily fooled.
13. Always take stores for longer time than you reckon to be away:
especially medical supplies. We had need of far more than we had.