SMALL OPERATIONS

January 1975

An Iranian diverted an airliner to Stanstead airport in Sussex, where the Iranian surrendered after negotiations, and there were no injuries or casualties as a result, apart from one SAS trooper who was bitten by a police dog.

Late 1975

The hideout of an IRA active service unit in Balcome St had been surrounded by the Met Police, but the occupants surrendered when they heard over their radio that the SAS were planning to storm the building.

October 1977

Members of a Palestinian and German terrorist cell hijacked a Lufthansas Boeing 777 airliner, and flew it round the Middle East. Finally, the terrorists killed the rwo pilots in Mogadishu Airport, Somalia. 26 of the German GSG 9 unit and 2 SAS men (Major Alisdair Morrison and Sergeant Barry Davis) stormed the aircraft, killing three out of four terrorists, with only four hostages slightly wounded.

July 1981

When the Gambian presidents wife and family were taken hostage by Cuban and Libyan backed rebels, three SAS members infiltrated the palace, rescued the hostages, and organised and attack on the terrorists.

October 1987

Rioting inmates at Peterhead Maximum Security prison took a warder hostage for five days. The SAS were given the order to storm the building, and sucessfully managed to do so, critically injuring no prisoners or the hostage.