The War That Never Was

The 575th Ranger Task Force, Raiding Forces are conducting a fighting withdrawal back to the Salerno Beachhead following their drop on Benevento, Italy. The jump was widely scattered with one plane load missing the drop zone by in excess of 100 miles. While the 575th RTF has been away conducting a hit and run guerrilla campaign, blocking roads by downing trees, cutting rail lines and blowing bridges, an element of Sea Raiders from the Brandenburger Regiment have raided Castelrozzo. Major the Lady Jane Seaborn is MIA. On his return to friendly lines Colonel John Randal takes the first men to arrive back and are immediately flown to Alexandria by Major General Sam Houston Blackwell in two of his Troop Transport Command's C-47s to marshal for a drop on Raiding Forces Advanced Base Castelrozzo (ABC). Meanwhile the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) and the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) are attached to Raiding Forces. The problem is they are on Leros which is being invaded by a combined German amphibious/airborne force. Col. Randal decides to rescue the remnants of the two units even though he has no authority to do so. The mission continues.