impressed by the success of german airborne operations during the battle of france, the british prime minister, winston churchill, directed the war office to investigate the possibility of creating a corps of 5,000 parachute troops. on 22 june 1940, no. 2 commando was turned over to parachute duties and, on 21 november, redesignated the 11th special air service battalion, with a parachute and glider wing. it was these men who took part in the first british airborne operation, operation colossus, on 10 february 1941. the battalion was later redesignated as the 1st parachute battalion. the success of the raid prompted the war office to expand the existing airborne force, setting up the airborne forces depot and battle school in derbyshire in april 1942, and creating the parachute regiment as well as converting a number of infantry battalions into airborne battalions in august 1942.