by Don Mitchell
Chapter 20: Rafael and Hemon Fall from the Sky
On the evening … : Virginia Hall activity report, September 30, 1944, NARA
OSS officers, Second Lieutenant … : Activity report of 2nd Lieutenant Henry D. Riley, INF. (Rafael), NARA
Henry Drinker Riley Jr…. : OSS memo from George F. Ingersoll to Colonel E. G. Connelly, October 23, 1943, NARA
His specialized skills … : OSS Confidential Theater Service Record of Henry D. Riley, May 15, 1945, NARA
The other OSS officer … : CIA periodic supplement personal history statement, signed by Virginia H. Goillot on April 2, 1958, C01346345, NARA
Paul completed the … : OSS background file on Paul Goillot, NARA
The men’s parachute … : Activity report of 2nd Lieutenant Henry D. Riley, INF. (Rafael), NARA
The newcomers were … : Ibid.
Virginia provided … : Ibid.
The German forces … : Ibid.
Initially, Henry and Paul believed … : Ibid.
The next day … : Ibid.
Angry and frustrated … : OSS background file on Paul Goillot, NARA
Since August 1 … : Virginia Hall activity report, September 30, 1944, NARA
More disappointment came … : Activity report of 2nd Lieutenant Henry D. Riley, INF. (Rafael), NARA
Finally, Virginia and … : Virginia Hall activity report, September 30, 1944, NARA
The group met … : Activity report of 2nd Lieutenant Henry D. Riley, INF. (Rafael), NARA
The following morning … : Ibid.
While these deliberations … : Virginia Hall activity report, September 30, 1944, NARA
To the disappointment … : Ibid.
Seven members joined … : Activity report of 2nd Lieutenant Henry D. Riley, INF. (Rafael), NARA
On September 21 … : Virginia Hall activity report, September 30, 1944, NARA
On September 23, 1944 … : To Mrs. Hall from Charlotte Norris, for the Commanding Officer, 1st Experimental Detachment, September 23, 1944, C00024285, NARA
Henry and Virginia … : Activity report of 2nd Lieutenant Henry D. Riley, INF. (Rafael), NARA
Henry and Paul were second lieutenants … : Virginia Hall activity report, September 30, 1944, NARA
Virginia was outspoken … : Ibid.
She was particularly … : Ibid.
Virginia summed up … : Ibid.
In the activity report … : Ibid.
Chapter 21: Hoping for a Final Mission
In October 1944 … : Subject: Personnel Survey of Possible Candidates for Staff on Austrian Operations, To: Mr. A. W. Dulles, October 13, 1944, C00024320, NARA
Dulles liked to … : A Look Over My Shoulder: A Life in the Central Intelligence Agency, pp. 59–60
by early December 1944 … : OSS Documents, Operation Crocus, December 1, 1944, RG 226, Folder 1265, Caserta, NARA
Virginia’s cover story … : OSS Documents, Diane’s cover story for Operation Crocus, December 1, 1944, RG 226, Folder 1265, Caserta, NARA
Paul’s OSS cover story … : OSS Documents, Emmon’s cover story for Operation Crocus, December 1, 1944, RG 226, Folder 1265, Caserta, NARA
In December 1944 … : From: Bartless and Manning, December 12, 1944, C00024341, NARA
In anticipation of … : OSS files, Transfer of Virginia Hall, US Civ, WE/SSO, SO/A/O, December 20, 1944, C00024342, NARA
Soon thereafter, Paul … : Subject: Transfer of Personnel, To: Major Eubank, From: Sgt de L’Arbre, December 26, 1944, C00024326, NARA
Chapter 22: The Austria Mission
Back in London … : The Winking Fox: Twenty-Two Years in Military Intelligence, p. 70
Paul was incredulous … : Ibid.
During the meal … : Ibid, p. 71
By February, plans were … : Virginia Hall financial brief, February 25, 1945, C00024328, NARA
Headquarters believed that … : Operations, General Directive, April 7, 1945, RG 226, Folder 1265, Caserta, NARA
Virginia was told … : True Name: Virginia Hall, General Directive, April 7, 1945, C00024345, NARA
Virginia was to supervise … : Ibid.
Additionally, Virginia and … : Ibid.
Virginia was to be deployed … : To: Chapin, Caserta, From: Gerry, Bari, Rpt SASAC, Paris, March 25, 1945, C00024268, NARA
Once Virginia and … : True Name: Virginia Hall, Final Brief, April 8, 1945, C00024346, NARA
Under the code name … : Ibid.
On April 28 … : OSS Cable, From Caserta SECRET “Relay to Berne 775 to Gerry from 399,” April 28, 1945, C00024245, NARA
However, just three days later … : OSS Cable, May 1, 1945, From: Caserta C00024237, NARA
On May 1, 1945 … : OSS Cable, May 1, 1945, To: Caserta, “Gerry to 399 Berne for Diana” C00024243, NARA
the April 1945 edition … : “Now It Can Be Told: Spark Plugs of France’s Secret Army,” by Blake Clark, April 1945, Reader’s Digest, p. 97; OSS Cable, From: Fortullino, May 10, 1945, C00024256, NARA
Richard Helms, one … : CIA history website, https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2012-featured-story-archive/cia-museum-artifacts-letter-from-helms.html
Helms took the … : Ibid.
Virginia and Paul … : OSS Cable, OSS outgoing message to Paris from Gerry, June 1, 1945, NARA; OSS Cable, From: Fortullino, May 10, 1945, C00024256, NARA
Chapter 23: A Final Accounting
Soon after Virginia … : Subject: Dr. Jean Rousset, 7 Place Antine[?] Poncet, Lyon, To Chief, SO Branch Forward, From: Virginia Hall, June 11, 1945, NARA
After US forces liberated … : Ibid.
When Eugene Labourier’s wife … : Subject: Eugene Labourier, Bvd de la Republique, Le Puy, Haute Loire, report by Virginia Hall, July 10, 1945, NARA
Madame Andre Michel … : Subject: Madame Andre Michel, 24 Rue Petite Fusterie, Avignon, From: Virginia Hall, June 11, 1945, NARA
As a result … : Ibid.
Monsieur J. Joulian and … : Subject: J. Joulian, Fabrique de Lentilles, Rue de La Roderis, Aiguilhe, Le Puy, The Loire, From: Virginia Hall, July 10, 1945, NARA
While Joulian still … : Ibid.
After Virginia had fled … : Subject: Madame Germaine Guerin, Chez Monsieur Decley, 29 Jours J. B. Langlet, Reims, To: Chief, SO Branch Forward, From: Virginia Hall, June 1945, NARA
One evening in … : Setting France Ablaze: The SOE in France During WWII, p. 64
“The cell door …”: The Resistance, p. 217
This was the … : Setting France Ablaze: The SOE in France During WWII, pp. 64–65
When Buchenwald was … : Ibid., p. 65
After being arrested … : Subject: Madame Eugenie Catin, 21 Bix, Rue Xavier Privas, Lyon, To: Chief, SO Branch Forward, From: Virginia Hall, June 11, 1945, NARA
After Peter Churchill’s first … : Setting France Ablaze: The SOE in France During WWII, pp. 75–77
In an effort … : Ibid., pp. 88–89
The couple was initially held … : Ibid., pp. 89
The couple was moved … : Ibid., pp. 89–90 and 92
Odette had been … : Ibid., pp. 90–92
With the end … : Memo from Lt. Goillot and V. Hall to Chief, SO Branch Forward, Subject: Trip of Lieutenant Paul G. Goillot and V. Hall to Former Circuits, June 23, 1945, NARA
Chapter 24: The True Story of Abbé Alesch
On November 12 … : Subject: Abbé Alesch (Daquin, Aquin, or Jacquin), To: Chief, SO Branch, Forward, From: Virginia Hall, June 11, 1945, NARA
The abbé then … : Setting France Ablaze: The SOE in France During WWII, p. 63
Several days after that … : Ibid.
Genet was always cordial … : Ibid.
“I do not know …” : Ibid.
His full name was … : Voluntary Statement of Robert Alesch, signed and subscribed to Peter Nunez, Special Agent, CIC, July 17, 1945, NARA
Later in 1935 … : Ibid.
In October 1942 … : Ibid.
While serving as … : Memo for the officer in
charge from Peter Nunez, Special Agent, CIC, Subject: Suspected Gestapo Agents (Alesch, Robert; aliases: de Saint-Martin, Rene; Lambert, Rene; Robert and Georges; Acrin or Acquin, Jean; Franklin, Luxembourger), April 12, 1945, NARA
Alesch was fluent … : Ibid.
Several days before … : Subject: Robert Alesch, Aliases: Rene de St. Martin; Rene Lammert; Rene Martin; Robert; Georges; Franklin, Luxembourg National Roman Catholic Priests, Former Abwehr Agent for Abwehr III-Paris., Re: Interrogation and Disposition of Subject, signed by Robert Alesch and sworn to by Peter Nunez, Special Agent, CIC, July 18, 1945, NARA
A few minutes … : Memo for the officer in charge, by Charles L. Gubellini, Special Agent, CIC, Subject: Robert Alesch (Alias: Rene Daquin; Rene Martin), July 3, 1945, RG 0319, NARA
“Having no experience …”: The Hunt for Nazi Spies, p. 39
Eventually, Alesch was … : Fighters in the Shadows: A New History of the French Resistance, p. 435
Chapter 25: Recognition
She had been … : Memo signed by C. de G., UK National Archives. (In the British archives, there is an undated memo signed by “C. de G.”—presumably Charles de Gaulle, leader of the Free French based in London for much of the war. The author notes of Virginia Hall: “Since August 1941, when this lady went into the field on our behalf, she has devoted herself whole-heartedly to our work without regard to the dangerous position in which her activities would place her if they were realized by the Vichy authorities. She has been indefatigable in her constant support and assistance for our agents, combining a high degree of organizing ability with a clear-sighted appreciation of our needs. She has become a vital link between ourselves and various operational groups in the field, and her service for us cannot be too highly praised. In 1944, she inaugurated a new circuit in Central France and by her own efforts in furnishing this circuit with arms and explosives she made it a most powerful factor in the harassing of enemy troops in the area. Miss Hall is most strongly recommended for the award of the Croix de Guerre.” Virginia never received this decoration.)
“Miss Virginia Hall …”: Memo for President Harry S. Truman from William J. Donovan, regarding award of Distinguished Service Cross for Virginia Hall, May 12, 1945, NARA
it was reported … : OSS Official Dispatch, SECRET, To: OSS, From: Paris, France, For Action: Director, June 13, 1945, C00024269, NARA
So, on September … : Typed letter unsigned by Graham G. Campbell, Lt. Col., Infantry, OSS Citations Officer to the War Department’s Adjutant General, notifying that General Donovan presented the Distinguished Service Cross to Virginia Hall (civilian) on this date in Washington, DC, September 27, 1945, NARA
Miss Virginia Hall … : Citation for Distinguished Service Cross by Harry S. Truman, OSS file on Virginia Hall, NARA
The following day … : Unsigned typed letter from Charles E. Ford to Lt. R. L. Covington, September 28, 1945, NARA. (The letter also notes that Virginia used five days of annual leave during her time with OSS.)
In the letter … : Virginia Hall’s signed resignation letter from the OSS, to Mr. Whitney H. Shepardson, OSS, Washington, DC, September 24, 1945, NARA
Harry S. Truman had … : Wild Bill Donovan: The Spymaster Who Created the OSS and Modern American Espionage, p. 4
Truman directed that … : The Office of Strategic Services: America’s First Intelligence Agency, by the CIA History Staff, May 2007
Part Four: The CIA
“A very hard-working …”: CIA’s personnel evaluation report on Virginia Hall (covering February 3, 1952 to December 11, 1953), January 26, 1954, C01346304, NARA
Chapter 26: Cold Warrior at the CIA
“She was a legend …”: Lorna Catling interview
“I just saw her …”: Ibid.
In December 1946 … : “Virginia Hall’s Career in the Central Intelligence Group and CIA,” CIA History Staff, unpublished biographical profile, 2015
Because of Virginia’s … : Ibid.
Unsatisfied with the work … : Ibid.
In March 1950 … : Ibid.
Filling out all … : Ibid.
Virginia joined the Agency … : CIA notification of personnel action, December 3, 1951, C01346289, NARA
In 1952, Virginia … : “Virginia Hall’s Career in the Central Intelligence Group and CIA,” CIA History Staff, unpublished biographical profile, 2015
Women like Virginia … : From Typist to Trailblazer: The Evolving View of Women in the CIA’s Workforce, October 30, 2013, Symposium of CIA Information Management Services, CIA Center for Mission Diversity and Inclusion (CMDI), and Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, p. 7
At the time … : Ibid.
Virginia began her career … : “Virginia Hall’s Career in the Central Intelligence Group and CIA,” CIA History Staff, unpublished biographical profile, 2015
Among her duties … : Ibid.
As the result of … : Ibid
In July 1954 … : Ibid.
A CIA official … : Sisterhood of Spies: The Women of the OSS, p. 127
“Generally speaking Miss Hall …”: CIA’s personnel evaluation report on Virginia Hall, January 26, 1954 (covering February 3, 1952 to December 11, 1953), C01346304, NARA
Asked to characterize … : CIA fitness report on Virginia Hall, December 3, 1954, C01346312, NARA
Virginia transferred to … : “Virginia Hall’s Career in the Central Intelligence Group and CIA,” by CIA History Staff, unpublished biographical profile, 2015
The individual who … : CIA fitness report performance of Virginia Hall (covering December 2, 1955 to December 2, 1956), December 28, 1956, C01346327, NARA
Virginia was understandably … : Ibid.
Virginia appealed the … : “Virginia Hall’s Career in the Central Intelligence Group and CIA,” by CIA History Staff, unpublished biographical profile, 2015
The previous supervisor … : Ibid.
That earlier supervisor … : Ibid.
In January 1957 … : Ibid.
Chapter 27: A New Beginning
until the couple got married … : CIA periodic supplement personal history statement, signed by Virginia H. Goillot on April 2, 1958, C01346345, NARA
Perhaps part of … : Lorna Catling email to author, July 17, 2016
After their marriage … : Lorna Catling interview
Lorna liked Paul tremendously … : Ibid.
“He was shorter …”: Sisterhood of Spies: The Women of the OSS, p .126
But Paul’s easygoing … Lorna Catling interview
By the early 1960s … : CIA fitness report, signed by Virginia H. Goillot on February 23, 1962, C01346360, NARA. (For a brief discussion of Virginia’s role in CIA operations at this time, see Safe for Democracy: The Secret Wars of the CIA, pp. 10–11)
Going into 1961 … : “Virginia Hall’s Career in the Central Intelligence Group and CIA,” by CIA History Staff, unpublished biographical profile, 2015
She was also … : Ibid.
In December 1962 … : CIA fitness report (covering January 1, 1963 to March 31, 1963), GS-14, signed June 3, 1963 by Virginia, C01346372, NARA
“At present, this employee …”: CIA fitness report (covering January 1, 1961 to February 28, 1962), GS-13, signed November 1, 1963 by Virginia, C01346371, NARA
The supervisor who … : Ibid.
One of Virginia’s … : Sisterhood of Spies: The Women of the OSS, p. 127
A number of … : “Virginia Hall’s Career in the Central Intelligence Group and CIA,” by CIA History Staff, unpublished biographical profile, 2015
Chapter 28: Retirement
In 1966, when Virginia … : Ibid.
Virginia spent her … : Notice of change in health benefits enrollment, effective date October 19, 1966, Virginia Hall, Barnesville, MD, C01348524, NARA
In retirement, Virginia … : Sisterhood of Spies: The Women of the OSS, p. 128
Virginia’s health declined … : Ibid.
This was rectified … : “Allied Countries Honor One of Greatest Spies,
” News from France, Vol. 06.13, December 27, 2006, Ambassade de France aux Etats-Unis
At the home … : Ibid.; “British, French Honor US Spy Virginia Hall,” December 12, 2006, National Public Radio (www.npr.org)
At the ceremony … : Les Marguerites Fleuriront ce Soir by Jeffrey W. Bass, Oil on Canvas, 2006, donated by Richard J. Guggenhime, https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol52no2/iac/les-marguerites-fleuriront-ce-soir.html
To know that … : “Virginia Goillot Dead; Agent in World War II,” New York Times, July 14, 1982
For your reference, the page numbers that appear in the print version of this book are listed below. They do not match the page numbers in your ebook. Please use the “Search” function on your eReading device to find items of interest.
Photos ©: ix, xvi, xviii, 1, 2 top and bottom, 3 top and bottom, 4: courtesy of Lorna H. Catling; 5 top and bottom: reprinted from the alumnae magazine Connections (2007) with permission from Roland Park Country School; 6, 8, 9, 10: courtesy of Lorna H. Catling; 12: courtesy of the CIA Museum; 13, 14 top: courtesy of Lorna H. Catling; 14 bottom: courtesy of the CIA Museum; 15: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum; 16: New York Daily News Archive/Getty Images; 18: courtesy of the CIA Museum; 19: courtesy of Lorna H. Catling; 21: permission from The Baltimore Sun; 22: Heinrich Hoffmann/Getty Images; 23, 24: Keystone-France/Getty Images; 25: Hulton Deutsch/Getty Images; 27: Rue des Archives/The Granger Collection; 30: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum; 31: courtesy of Lorna H. Catling; 32: Associated Press/AP Images; 34-35: dikobraziy/Shutterstock; 38: Roger Viollet/Getty Images; 43: courtesy of Lorna H. Catling; 46: courtesy of the International Spy Museum, Washington DC; 50: ullstein bild Dtl./Getty Images; 51: Keystone/Getty Images; 55: courtesy of Lorna H. Catling; 59: Three Lions/Getty Images; 65, 68: Popperfoto/Getty Images; 70: Three Lions/Getty Images; 91: Gabriel Hackett/Getty Images; 94-95: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum; 104-105: dikobraziy/Shutterstock; 108, 109, 110: courtesy of the CIA Museum; 111: Colby Family Collection; 113: Roger Viollet/Getty Images; 114: courtesy of the CIA Museum; 115: National Archives and Records Administration; 117, 123: courtesy of the CIA Museum; 126: Roger Viollet/Getty Images; 130: courtesy of Lorna H. Catling; 135: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum; 136: Rue des Archives/The Granger Collection; 137: Colby Family Collection; 141: Keystone-France/Getty Images; 143: Roger Viollet Collection/Getty Images; 144: Jeffrey W. Bass; 145: courtesy of the CIA Museum; 146 top: Keystone-France/Getty Images; 146 bottom: Keystone-France/Getty Images; 147: Keystone/Getty Images; 150: Robert Capa/International Center of Photography/Magnum Photos; 151: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum; 152 top: Print Collector/Getty Images; 152 bottom: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum; 155: National Archives and Records Administration; 159: Alinari Archives/Getty Images; 162-163: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum; 166, 175, 176: courtesy of the CIA Museum; 178: Margaret Bourke-White/Getty Images; 182: Gaston Paris/Getty Images; 184: Central Press/Getty Images; 189: Print Collector/Getty Images; 190: National Archives and Records Administration; 195 left and right: courtesy of the CIA Museum; 196, 198: courtesy of Lorna H. Catling; 199: courtesy of the CIA Museum; 200: courtesy of Lorna H. Catling; 204, 205, 208: courtesy of the CIA Museum; 210, 214, 215: courtesy of Lorna H. Catling; 217: courtesy of the CIA Museum; 218: courtesy of Lorna H. Catling; 219: courtesy of the CIA Museum; 220 left: courtesy of the International Spy Museum, Washington DC; 220 right: courtesy of Lorna H. Catling
