1st 1st 1st fictional brigade second world war formed cairo deception brigadier play italian fears airborne attacks clarke documents photographs news reports fake soldiers plant information brigade named cairo based deception department force bolster evidence existence summer pitching idea dedicated airborne commando unit later evolved obtained clarke support partly promising use late clarke 1st major order battle deception brigade formed fictional end war axis commanders strength allied forces north_africa specific tactical formation late allies recovered journal italian officer operation diary referred fears british landed italian rear time allies airborne troops north african region charge military deception region decided play fears creating fictional airborne unit clarke began january creating paper trail 1st fictional unit supposedly training special missions clarke established existence documentary physical photographs printed local papers documents planted enemy allied airmen warned look mocked support story section desert training aid rumours soldiers dressed 1st uniforms allied held cities cairo alexandria hint missions crete libya march clarke deception operations grown decided create formal department chose advanced headquarters force subtle reference airborne hope help support existence area hide true purpose department clarke continued actively promoting existence 1st june appears axis commanders accepted brigade real clarke created unit specific aims mean enemy command factor existence airborne troops battle plan 1st represented attempt apparent strength allied forces tactic use significantly rest war brigade occasionally featured clarke tactical march threat axis supply lines near tripoli injured british forces commando north_africa theatre proposed idea small airborne special forces units operate enemy lines whilst lobbying support came clarke attention offered backing provided force help deception schemes came mainly fact anxious operation ingenious individual called responsible running deception operation cairo clark influential promised help use brigade plan received approval summer unit designated detachment special air service intended add evidence airborne presence specifically 1st region 1st formed clarke overall strategy axis strength allied forces region early hoc situation entire fictional order battle featuring numerous units late allies begun train number real airborne units north african theatre clarke created fictional units real fictional including 1st umbrella cascade aim axis training posed realistic threat utilised number specific operational years including operation threaten fictional invasions distraction real allied operations
1st SAS Brigade