David Stirling's theory of a small man unit was proven correct. This was demonstrated through the first SAS mission. However, it was not accomplished in a fashion that was beneficial to the regiment. The reason for this being that of the sixty-six soldiers that were sent to battle, only a third of them returned. This further proved that a larger unit only made a larger target. This taught a great deal to the founders of the group, and the planning for the next mission was made with more caution. .
An important factor in the success of future SAS missions during World War II was the Lewes Bomb. This was an explosive device that was small enough to be carried, yet it contained enough explosive force to destroy an entire plane upon detonation. This became crucial to the destruction of German air fields. Word of the Special Air Service's strikes quickly spread amongst the Nazis. The SAS had been causing so much turmoil, that Adolf Hitler issued a shoot-to-kill order in which he stated, "These men are dangerous- (Britain's Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment). The SAS had already struck panic in its enemies after being in operation for less than a year. However, the Special Air Service would not see action for nearly a decade after the Germans were defeated.
After the war, the SAS was included in military cutbacks and was disbanded only to remain latent for over a decade. It was later revived during the 1950's as part of the United Kingdom's counter-insurgency wars in Asia, in addition to the rise of communism during the Cold War (Britain's Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment). It spent most of this time engaging in jungle warfare against the Communist Terrorists in Malaysia. Today, however, the SAS carries out missions on a much larger scale throughout the world.
Since the rise of Irish Republican Army, Great Britain has deployed a number of SAS operatives into Northern Ireland to carry out surveillance of the IRA.