   operation loyton was the codename given to a special air service (sas) mission in the vosges department of france during the second world war. the mission, between 12 august and 9 october 1944, had the misfortune to be parachuted into the vosges mountains, at a time when the german army was reinforcing the area, against general george patton's third army. as a result the germans quickly became aware of their presence and conducted operations to destroy the sas team. with their supplies running out and under pressure from the german army, the sas were ordered to form smaller groups to return to allied lines. during the fighting and breakout operations 31 men were captured and later executed by the germans. ==background== the vosges is a region in north-eastern france close to the german border. in 1944 it was sparsely populated and consisted of wood covered hills, valley pastures and small isolated villages, an ideal area for a small mobile raiding force to operate. in late 1944 it was also the area that general george patton's third army was heading towards, but outrunning their supplies they had stopped at nancy. to counter the american advance the germans had moved reinforcements, including the 17th ss panzergrenadier division gÃ¶tz von berlichingen, into the area. ==mission== a small sas advance party commanded by captain henry druce was parachuted into the vosges on 12 august 
1944_in_France Conflicts_in_1944 Special_Air_Service The_Holocaust_in_France World_War_II_British_Commando_raids