Operation Blazing was the proposed Allied assault on Alderny in 1942, which had the aim of taking and holding the island for at least 24 hours. It is interesting because it involves a large scale combined operation using S.S. commando and Parachute units in the opening phases, and the Guards Brigade supported by Churchill tanks for the main Landing. What stands out is the beach landing zone chosen for the operation: the most heavily defended point of the island, overlooked by Fort Albert on the high ground to the right and the Port defences on the left. There is little doubt in my mind that Allied stategum this year was to test out a direct amphibious combined arms assault against heavily fortified german beaches. This has connotations for the Dieppe raid, and suggests that the allied stratergy of '42 was to ram an invasion force down the german throats and see what happened (so to speak), with a view of launching a second front later. We can therefore be thankfull that this operation was never conducted, the Canadians of Dieppe were not so lucky. The operation went close to being carried off and training for Blazing was conducted on the Isle of Wight in May 1942. However at the last minute the Commander of the Parachute regiment being used pulled out admist concerns over the landing zone. This was to prove the final straw for BLAZING as the RAF had already expressed dissaproval at the operation, particularally in regards to the possible losses in bombers which would been accued in the initial assault of the beach defences (and which could ill be spared). A further concern was also the effort involved in providing fighter protection which would be required to defend the island and its defending force, for the proposed period of time. As a result Blazing was called off just a few days before the Guards were to set sail from the Isle of Wight in May. Note that when reffering to this operation, most of the men in the guards often talk of Operation LANCING, not BLAZING. LANCING was the invasion of the French coast to seize valuable German Radar equipment. The plans for LANCING were much further advanced than BLAZING due to the agreement which had been reached between the RN and RAF (there being less difficulties, the french coast being within air cover of the UK) and BLAZING was hurredly pun into place instead of LANCING for want of not wasting the opportunity and for "something to do". The forces for BLAZING went back to the mainland, never knowing where they had been previously destined for, whilst a small force remained to board the invasion force assembled for LANCING. Sadly (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) bad weather cancled LANCING whilst the force was at sea, although all those involved still got their "survivors leave" when they returned to england.
Plans and Objectives (Military) A number of plans were drawn up, the following describes BLAZING at its height, when all forces were still committed. The assault would be divided up into three Waves, S.S. Commando Units would land at Three points on the west coast and cause a diverson, the Parachute detachment would then arrive (The DZ being Longy Common, see the Airborne plans section), and then the main assault would begin in Braye Bay.
Maps/timetable German Defences on Alderney (1942) Phase I (Command Landings) Phase III (Main Assault) Operation Timetable
Airborne Operation: Plans The DZ for the Airborne forces was Longy Common on the eastern half of the island astride the road to St Annes from Longy bay. The limit of the DZ in the west was the Cemetary, these days the Airborne invasion force would have landed on the golf course.
