Operation Hydra was a failed British attempt during World War II in Yugoslavia to develop contact with the Partisans led by Josip Broz Tito, in Montenegro in February 1942.
British Special Operations Executive agents, and an officer of the former Royal Yugoslav Air Force were to be put ashore at Perazića Do, just north of Petrovac, Budva.

Atherton, now a British Army Major (234206) had been trained as a special field operative.

On the 4th February 1942, the three agents went ashore from the British submarine HMS Thorn.
They were Major Terence Atherton (a former journalist and agent in Belgrade), Lieutenant Radoje Nedeljković of the Yugoslav Royal Air Force and Sergeant Patrick O'Donovan, wireless operator.

The operation failed completely.
The presence of the Yugoslav officer implied links to the royalist Chetniks and it is suggested that this caused Josip Broz Tito to suspect the British of being spies.
Nothing beneficial arose, therefore, and the British agents left Tito.
They disappeared without a trace soon after, as did the large amount of gold and Italian money that they carried.

The British liaison officer at General Draža Mihailović’s headquarters, Duane "Bill" Hudson insisted  Mihailović conduct a formal inquiry into the fate of Major Atherton‘s mission.

A summary of the results of this investigation was sent by Duane "Bill" Hudson to SOE office in Cairo.
According to the results of the inquiry, the most probable culprit for Atherton's death was četnik leader Spasoje Dakić.

Atherton and O'Donovan, his radio operator, left Čelebić on 22 April for the village of Tatarevina, and were escorted part of the way by Dakić.
They were never seen again.
Dakić, who later appeared at Mihailović's headquarters in possession of Atherton's binoculars, and wearing his boots, had probably murdered both men and stolen the large quantity of gold sovereigns which Atherton was carrying.
He was only 'nominally a Mihailović Cetnik', but Hudson had the impression that Mihailović 'knew something about the matter'.
This summary completed such evidence as Hudson was able to assemble up to July 1942.
Mihailović's first reaction to all these happenings was to insinuate to London, as an astute propaganda move, that the British members of the party had been killed by Partisans.
He stated this in a message, dated 27 May, at a moment when in reality he and the British military authorities in Cairo had every reason to believe that Atherton was alive.
At the end of the signal Mihailović announced that, because of these murders, 'he had declared open warfare on all Partisans'.
Operation Hydra was a failed British attempt during World War II in Yugoslavia to develop contact with the Partisans led by Josip Broz Tito, in Montenegro in February 1942. British Special Operations Executive agents, and an officer of the former Royal Yugoslav Air Force were to be put ashore at Perazića Do, just north of Petrovac, Budva.
Atherton, now a British Army Major (234206) had been trained as a special field operative.
On the 4th February 1942, the three agents went ashore from the British submarine HMS Thorn. They were Major Terence Atherton (a former journalist and agent in Belgrade), Lieutenant Radoje Nedeljković of the Yugoslav Royal Air Force and Sergeant Patrick O'Donovan, wireless operator.
The operation failed completely. The presence of the Yugoslav officer implied links to the royalist Chetniks and it is suggested that this caused Josip Broz Tito to suspect the British of being spies. Nothing beneficial arose, therefore, and the British agents left Tito. They disappeared without a trace soon after, as did the large amount of gold and Italian money that they carried.
The British liaison officer at General Draža Mihailović’s headquarters, Duane "Bill" Hudson insisted  Mihailović conduct a formal inquiry into the fate of Major Atherton‘s mission. 
A summary of the results of this investigation was sent by Duane "Bill" Hudson to SOE office in Cairo. According to the results of the inquiry, the most probable culprit for Atherton's death was četnik leader Spasoje Dakić.
Atherton and O'Donovan, his radio operator, left Čelebić on 22 April for the village of Tatarevina, and were escorted part of the way by Dakić. They were never seen again. Dakić, who later appeared at Mihailović's headquarters in possession of Atherton's binoculars, and wearing his boots, had probably murdered both men and stolen the large quantity of gold sovereigns which Atherton was carrying. He was only 'nominally a Mihailović Cetnik', but Hudson had the impression that Mihailović 'knew something about the matter'. This summary completed such evidence as Hudson was able to assemble up to July 1942. Mihailović's first reaction to all these happenings was to insinuate to London, as an astute propaganda move, that the British members of the party had been killed by Partisans. He stated this in a message, dated 27 May, at a moment when in reality he and the British military authorities in Cairo had every reason to believe that Atherton was alive. At the end of the signal Mihailović announced that, because of these murders, 'he had declared open warfare on all Partisans'.
Terence Atherton