In a daring and controversial operation, Winston Churchill’s Special Operations Executive (SOE) executed a high-stakes raid dubbed Operation Postmaster, seizing three Axis vessels off the coast of Spanish-held Fernando Po. Despite initial resistance from British authorities, who deemed the mission too risky and fraught with potential diplomatic fallout, Churchill’s determination prevailed. The mission, which aimed to capture enemy ships and gather intelligence, unfolded on January 14, 1942, under the cover of darkness and wartime blackout.

A small team of elite SOE and Small Scale Raiding Force (SSRF) operatives, led by Captain March-Phillips, approached the harbor in two tugboats, Vulcan and Nuneaton. Disguised as a party-goer, SOE agent Richard Lippett lured Axis crew members ashore, creating a diversion that allowed the raiders to board the ships undetected. The audacious plan hinged on stealth, and as the raiders closed in, they managed to commandeer the Duchessa d’Aosta, Likomba, and Bibundi without firing a single shot.

In a whirlwind operation lasting less than 30 minutes, the team executed their mission flawlessly, capturing 29 enemy personnel and escaping back to British waters, all while Spanish authorities remained oblivious to the true nature of the explosions that rocked the harbor. The success of Operation Postmaster not only demonstrated the capabilities of the SOE but also heightened tensions with Spain, prompting outrage from the Spanish government, which branded the raid an intolerable act of piracy.

As news of the operation spreads, questions loom about the potential diplomatic fallout and whether Churchill’s gamble was worth the risk of igniting conflict with Spain. Operation Postmaster stands as a testament to the audacity and ingenuity of Britain’s covert operations during World War II, proving that even the most impossible missions can yield extraordinary results.