Des Powell was a member of the Parachute Regiment who got selected for the SAS and during a twenty year career with 'Them' he was involved in Op Granby as part of the Scud hunting patrols Bravo One Zero, Bravo Two Zero and Bravo Three Zero. Fowler, Will (2005). SAS Behind Enemy Lines: Covert Operations 1941-2005. London: Collins. p.179. ISBN 0-00-719990-2. Finally, we parked up where we could best conceal the wagons, and moved a good 200 yards away. That way, when the bullets started to fly, at least the enemy mightn't lay eyes on the vehicles. One of those questions, and the next one I ask Des, is naming the most challenging moment his team experienced on the ground.

For the first time, Cambridgeshire SAS veteran, and second in command of Bravo Three Zero, Des Powell reveals their story. Even as warnings came in that McNab’s patrol was on the run, Bravo Three Zero remained undetected – the furthest Coalition forces behind Iraqi lines. Slipping through enemy positions, a string of targets were taken out. But with the desert turning bitter and snow starting to fall, they were forced to fight a running battle against the elements as much as the enemy.It is difficult to put down in words my thoughts on reading this. It is more than a story of courage or bravery in the face of adversity. It is though a compelling read and a reminder of the sacrifices made by others From the outset, however, it's clear that Coburn's version of events (written with another patrol member, an Australian known simply as Mal) is different from previous accounts: he is captured, shot and tortured, but there is none of the heroics of killing the enemy that feature in McNab and Ryan's work. Join Damien Lewis and Des Powell as they launch their new book, marking both the 80th anniversary of the SAS and the 30th anniversary of the Gulf War. But you know something? When you think you're as low as you can get, Murphy's Law ‑ if it can go wrong it will ‑ always seems to come into play. Moving in daylight, it couldn't be long before we started taking hits. It was a horribly exposed feeling. No matter how much the enemy vehicles kept closing the gap, Driller couldn't get any more speed out of the wagon.

There were three SAS patrols that fateful January 1991 morning: Bravos One, Two (Andy McNab) and Three Zero. It was the opening hours of the Gulf War and the SAS were flown deep behind enemy lines to hunt down Saddam’s Scud missiles.

The first public literary mention of the patrol was in Storm Command, [18] the autobiography of Lieutenant-General Peter de la Billière, who served as the commander of the British Forces during the Gulf War, although the patrol is only mentioned in passing. The book was released in 1992. Des Powell served in the Parachute Regiment as a sergeant major before spending 20 years in the SAS at the heart of Counter Terrorism and Special Projects teams. A former PT instructor in 1 PARA, he became the Unarmed Combat and Fitness instructor for B Squadron, and pioneered HALO, HAHO and other covert airborne entry techniques. He was the second-in command of the Bravo Three Zero patrol in 1991. In this exclusive launch event, Des Powell and bestselling author Damien Lewis, will reveal the Bravo Three Zero story and the achievements of this highly-decorated patrol. Damien Lewis is a Sunday Times No 1 bestselling author whose books have been translated into 40 languages worldwide. For 20 years, Damien worked as a war and conflict reporter for the world’s major broadcasters. Several of his books are being made into feature films. SAS Bravo Three Zero continues Damien’s iconic elite forces series: Churchill’s Secret Warriors, The Nazi Hunters, Hunting The Nazi Bomb, SAS Ghost Patrol, SAS Italian Job, SAS Shadow Raiders, SAS Band of Brothers and SAS Great Escapes.

In conversation with ex-spook Paul Hughes, Des Powell provides us with an intimate look into the life of the SAS on this timely, commemorative evening. There are obvious comparisons between ‘SAS Bravo Three Zero’ and Andy McNab’s ‘Bravo Two Zero’. They are both firsthand accounts of an SAS patrol sent behind Iraqi lines, something the authors do not shy away from, referencing Andy McNab‘s patrol throughout.The book is subtitled ‘The SAS Patrol that got away – The Explosive True Story’. And it truly is a remarkable story, one that extends and has meaning far beyond that particular theatre of war. This is a totally honest, sometimes harsh, but definitely inspiring tale of a unit who made a significant impact upon the course of the Gulf War. Paying tribute to their fallen colleagues, and showing the honesty and integrity of the men who fought for each other, and for the sake of so many others, if you are in any way interested in military history, or just want to read about a group of determined, honour driven men who put duty before all else, I’d definitely recommend this book. About the Author This is a story that needed to told, a story that deserves to be read, a story that needs to be read, a story which makes you stop, think and remember One of A Squadron's Pinkies (as we had dubbed our open-topped Land Rovers) had been caught in a tangle of barbed wire. The noise had alerted the enemy and all hell had let loose. I would hope that we may be able to read more about the exploits of Des Powell, to be able to spend some time in this mans company would be some experience