OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES
5
I^DaAHDUK FOR GENERAL ARNOLD:
I think you may bo interestedew notespecial ground/air system of intelligence reporting which represents another example of the cooperation botween tho AAF and CSS. This system, developed by OSS is knownoan and Eleanor), ^hcn put into operation with the assistance of the Eighth Air Force during the closing months of the war against Germany italuable new tool for penetration of any desired depth into enemy territory.
Because of its portability and superiority securityas important advantages over wireless telegraphy in certain specifiche equipment carried by the ground agent affords maximum possibilities of concealment, as the two pocket-size units and collapsible antenna weigh less than four pounds and there is no dependence on outside power supply. The danger of detection through enemy monitoring is minimized by the highused and the selective beam pattern cast upward, which make it improbable that tho er.emy will hear the signals. Hence except for cwssages involving top security, the necessity of coding is eliminated.
iJiroct two-way voice communication permits spot advice to thepriority intelligence desired and makes it possible in some instancesrequested information at once. Both sides of the
conversation aro recorded in the plane for purposes of accuracy andheck on the identity of the ground operator. ontact, lastingrinutes, canreater volume of intelligence than several daysT transmission under normal circumstances. It is also possiblelane in the courseingle mission to rake more than one such contact, if the agents are so located as to cake this practical.
Tonto actual operation under combat conditionsplanning and coordination with the AAF, which have throughoutcooperation, round agent recuireatrainingT operator, in order to obtain thoroughprocedure he should have at least four successful flighttwo of them in the same day. lireover, the air operator mustof aircraft operations and flying conditions, and mustand psychological qualifications of the highest order. perations by providing crews qualified to participatethis exacting type of flight and by outfitting the Ibsqulto bombersusedn ETC with necessary special ecuipment, includingsystems, secondary inter-communications systems, direction indicators emergency
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approved fop reiease date:0
Tha first successful operationas accomplished in4 with an agent placed in Holland. Betweenanuary andeams were introduced directly into Germany, where they were placed in koy cities. ecurity features enabled two of these teams to work in Berlin without being detected. issions were flown betweenarch andpril. The accumulation of operational experience resulted in exceptionally good contacts toward the end of this period, although some failures occurred at the start. Thus, except for atteapts which failed to reach the target area, every mission out one, of those flown during the last week of these operations, produced useful results. An example of the effective uses set forth in detail in Appendix A.
Far Eastern operationside field for the further use. It ia expected that this ea.uipment may facilitate the penetration of auch difficult targets as Korea, Manchuria and Japan.
onovan Director
Original document.
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