Office of Strategic Services Operational Groups

Mission:
The Brittany peninsula was being cut off at the base by American troops with another column moving along the coast from St. Malo toward Brest. To facilitate the passage of the former column resistance groups were instructed to preserve bridges, railroads and highways along east-west routes in Northern Brittany, and to begin maximum guerilla activity. "Donald" assignment included protection of the railway viaduct east of Guimiliau.

Summary:
5 August: Of three Sterlings scheduled for this mission, take-off of one was prevented by a defective wheel; a second couldn't recognize the DZ signal and returned to Harrington; the third plane made the drop in the clear night from a height of 800 feet at 0130 hours of 6 August. No injurues. The widely scattered Group was assembled by the Maquis at a safe house, fed and billeted in a hayloft. Radio transmitter failed to arrive.

7 August: The bridge to be protected, ten minutes away, over the Pense stream, was large, with 7 brick and stone pillars. Defense was set up by the OG and turned over to the Maquis.

c. 9 August: Maquis Capt. Cadalen, local head of the FFI, and 250 Maquis accompanied the Group to Landivisiau which the Germans had left the day before. The Group's arrival was occasion for celebration. Here they met an advance American unit whose radio transmitter failed to reach London.

c. 11 August: Group continued to Lesneven where they contacted advance elements of American Task Force A under Gen. Earnest who requested Group return to Landivisiau to protect inhabitants from German harassment. Group got as far as far as Guiclan where 22 Germans were captured. Here three lost American soldiers with a 50 cal. machine gun mounted on a Jeep Joined the OGs.
Moving on to Roscoff on the coast where Germans were reported the enlarged force found a block house impregnable to anything but artillery. A soldier from the garrison on a bicycle was sent back with orders to surrender. The Germans agreed to surrender to Americans, but came out with weapons. Maquis fire sent them back. When threatened to be shelled, 30 Germans came out unarmed.

13 August: Heading to Morlaix an OG patrol met Jedburgh Lt. Chadbourne who made contact with London requesting arms for the Maquis. None arrived in the following few nights.

17 August: American Civil Affairs arrived, taking over OG functions. In the following days OGs reached Cherbourg where plane took them to London 19 August.

Summary compiled by John Hamblet.