Editing Ian Fleming (section)

==== 30 Assault Unit ====
In 1942 Fleming formed a unit of [[British Commandos|commandos]], known as [[No. 30 Commando]] or 30 Assault Unit (30AU), composed of specialist intelligence troops.{{sfn|Rankin|2011|p=136}} 30AU's job was to be near the front line of an advance—sometimes in front of it—to seize enemy documents from previously targeted headquarters.{{sfn|Longden|2010|p=2}} The unit was based on a German group headed by [[Otto Skorzeny]], who had undertaken similar activities in the [[Battle of Crete]] in May 1941.{{sfn|Chancellor|2005|p=33}} The German unit was thought by Fleming to be "one of the most outstanding innovations in German intelligence".{{sfn|Macintyre|2008|p=50}}

Fleming did not fight in the field with the unit, but selected targets and directed operations from the rear.{{sfn|Chancellor|2005|p=33}} On its formation the unit was 30 strong, but it grew to five times that size.{{sfn|Macintyre|2008|p=50}} The unit was filled with men from other commando units, and trained in unarmed combat, safe-cracking and lock-picking at the SOE facilities.{{sfn|Chancellor|2005|p=33}} In late 1942 [[Captain (naval)|Captain]] (later [[Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom|Rear-Admiral]]) Edmund Rushbrooke replaced Godfrey as head of the Naval Intelligence Division, and Fleming's influence in the organisation declined, although he retained control over 30AU.<ref name="Lycett (DNB)" /> Fleming was unpopular with the unit's members,{{sfn|Macintyre|2008|p=50}} who disliked his referring to them as ''his'' "Red Indians".{{sfn|Lycett|1996|p=152}}

Before the 1944 [[Normandy landings]], most of 30AU's operations were in the Mediterranean, although it is possible that it secretly participated in the [[Dieppe Raid]] in a failed pinch raid for an Enigma machine and related materials. Fleming observed the raid from [[HMS Fernie (L11)|HMS ''Fernie'']], 700 yards offshore.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ogrodnik |first=Irene |title=Breaking German codes real reason for 1942 Dieppe raid: historian |url=http://www.globalnews.ca/feature/6442694158/story.html |work=Global News |publisher=[[Shaw Media]] |access-date=17 August 2012 |date=9 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024084451/http://www.globalnews.ca/feature/6442694158/story.html |archive-date=24 October 2012}}</ref> Because of its successes in Sicily and Italy, 30AU became greatly trusted by naval intelligence.{{sfn|Rankin|2011|p=220}}{{sfn|Longden|2010|p=6}}

In March 1944 Fleming oversaw the distribution of intelligence to Royal Navy units in preparation for [[Operation Overlord]].{{sfn|Macintyre|2008|p=56}} He was replaced as head of 30AU on 6 June 1944,{{sfn|Chancellor|2005|p=33}} but maintained some involvement.{{sfn|Lycett|1996|pp=152–153}} He visited 30AU in the field during and after Overlord, especially following an attack on [[Cherbourg]] for which he was concerned that the unit had been incorrectly used as a regular commando force rather than an intelligence-gathering unit. This wasted the men's specialist skills, risked their safety on operations that did not justify the use of such skilled operatives, and threatened the vital gathering of intelligence. Afterwards, the management of these units was revised.{{sfn|Rankin|2011|p=220}} He also followed the unit into Germany after it located, in Tambach Castle, the German naval archives from 1870.{{sfn|Macintyre|2008|pp=56–57}}

In December 1944 Fleming was posted on an intelligence fact-finding trip to the Far East on behalf of the Director of Naval Intelligence.{{sfn|Lycett|1996|p=154}} Much of the trip was spent identifying opportunities for 30AU in the Pacific;{{sfn|Lycett|1996|pp=154–155}} the unit saw little action because of the [[Surrender of Japan|Japanese surrender]].<ref>{{cite web |title=History of 30 Assault Unit 1942–1946 |url=http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/summary/xh40-001.shtml |work=Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives |publisher=[[King's College London]] |access-date=16 May 2012 |location=London |date=8 August 2005}}</ref>