THE GROUND RULES FOR A
NEW ESPIONAGE AGENT.
Earlier this week I posted a link to a 1947-era film starring, amongst others, James Cagney. Cagney plays the part of a hardened OSS man who had been given a brief to train and select new agents for the agency known as 077. But more than that, he was also told that amongst his trainees was a real agent, a German agent tasked with finding out whatever details he could on the forthcoming Allied Invasion of Europe.
The point of this short clip is to illustrate the harsh realities of espionage and how life for those selected would have to change dramatically.
Look at the date again, it was released in 1947, which suggests that it had been written well before that time possibly 1946 not long after the OSS was terminated which was September 25th, 1945. The agency was replaced by the CIA.
How does the OSS relate to the Somerton Man case?
In April 1948, Bayard King was appointed as a US Vice consul in Adelaide, South Australia. He remained there until Christmas 1948. A coincidence perhaps, an ex OSS man arrived in Adelaide in a momentous year that saw many high ranking personages spending time in the City of Churches. The unusual death of a man on Somerton Beach just weeks before Mr. King departed for distant shores.
And The Movie?
This movie, and the clip in particular, provides us with an insight into what it took and probably still takes to be an intelligence agent of the subversive kind.
Brief History Of The OSS
Here's a summation of the history of the OSS from its formation in 1942 to its disbandment in 1945:
Formation and Purpose
The OSS was established on June 13, 1942, as the United States’ primary intelligence agency during WWII, created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt under the Joint Chiefs of Staff to conduct espionage, propaganda, subversion, and special operations behind enemy lines. Led by Major General William Donovan, the OSS centralized American intelligence efforts for the war, previously handled ad hoc by various departments. It took inspiration from British intelligence agencies, notably MI6 and SOE, with British support in training early agents.
Activities and Operations
The OSS played a key role in gathering and analyzing intelligence across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. It conducted espionage, sabotage, and support for resistance groups in Axis-occupied territories. OSS missions included aiding the Kuomintang in China, supporting French resistance in southern France, and providing intelligence on German operations, including advanced weapons and chemical warfare projects. In Turkey, the OSS ran "Project Net-1," and its "Dogwood-chain" sought intelligence in Europe, though it later became unreliable.
The OSS was also known for its innovative Research & Development branch, which created espionage tools like silenced pistols, coded communication devices, and disguised explosives. They developed the "Joan-Eleanor" radio system for secure operative communications and various forged documents for undercover operations.
Dissolution and Legacy
Following WWII, the OSS was disbanded on September 20, 1945. Its intelligence functions were divided between the Department of State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) and the War Department’s Strategic Services Unit (SSU). In 1947, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) absorbed many of the OSS's functions, while the Special Activities Division continued the OSS's paramilitary operations. The OSS's impact persists through the CIA and the Defense Intelligence Agency, with the United States Special Operations Command symbol honoring its legacy.
Notable Personnel
Prominent OSS operatives included William Colby (later CIA Director), Julia Child, and Moe Berg. The OSS trained anti-Nazi resistance fighters, and among its significant accomplishments was infiltrating Nazi Germany and assisting in the surrender of German forces in Italy.
Recognition
In 2016, the OSS was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for its contributions to American intelligence and WWII efforts.
Links:
This first link takes you to the US National Archives and the records of the OSS. Little is known of Bayard King's service:
https://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww2/oss#:~:text=After%20the%20OSS%20was%20terminated,agencies%20of%20the%20Federal%20government.
This is the link to the Wikipedia site:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Strategic_Services#:~:text=The%20Office%20of%20Strategic%20Services,the%20United%20States%20Armed%20Forces.