Commando

This first episode chronicles the setting up of this amazing force, whose mission was to carry out lightning raids in enemy territory, 'leaving a trail of blood behind them'.

The story of the greatest Commando raid of the Second World War: the attack on St Nazaire in France, the biggest dry dock in Europe. The ultimate in suicide raids, it was to be the most spectacularly successful of the Second World War Commando Operations.

This episode details the formation and early missions of the Special Air Service - SAS. Early failures were overcome after joining up with the Long Range Desert Patrol. This combination enabled daring missions deep behind enemy lines that have become the stuff of legends.

When the Germans invaded Belgium and Holland using parachutists in May 1940, Churchill was stung into action. Britain had no similar force and Churchill called for the immediate setting up of an airborne commando unit. This is their story.