The Princess Spy

by Larry Loftis

  Q Building: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 14, 16 (noting that the building was single-story and prefabricated); Dunev, Spy Reminisces, 6 (noting that the building was two-story and “temporary”). By 1943 the OSS occupied four large buildings at 2430 E Street, NW, Washington, DC, and the Q Building was apparently adjacent to this quad.

  walls… filing cabinets… Ryan: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 16; History of Pascualete, 7. In both accounts Aline hides the identity of Frank Ryan, referring to him as “John Derby” in The Spy Wore Red, and as “the man I had met at the dinner party in New York” in The History of Pascualete. She later identifies him in her 1992 article, “The OSS in Spain” (p. 127), and again in 2015 in The End of an Epoch (p. 45). Contrary to Aline’s account in The Spy Wore Red, she did not receive the code name “TIGER,” and would not have received her field code name here. She would later receive the code name “BUTCH” (see ensuing text and accompanying note), and her alias for training at The Farm would have been her own name, or a close variation (i.e., “Ally” from Aline, or “Mary” from Marie). Example aliases at The Farm include “Bobby” for Robert Dunev, “Barbara” for Barbara Cagiati, “Herman” for Henry Harjes, “Phil” for Philip Stearns, “Hub” for Boroslav Hruby, “Matt” for Andrew Mathews, “George” for George Bally, “Charley” for Rene Charpentier, “Vic” for Victor Cordovi, “Ed” for Edward Begliomini, “Ramon” for Romolo Alcini, and “Roland” for Roland Papucci, NARA. In a few instances students were given aliases unrelated to their real names, such as “Frenchy” for Robert Spauer or “Hugo” for Mario Volpe. See Students for RTU-11, October 11, 1943, RG 226, Entry UD 161, Box 11, NARA.

  Your first trip… heart thumping: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 16.

  There is nothing: Romanones, History of Pascualete, 7.

  folding his hands: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 16.

  The most I can do: Romanones, History of Pascualete, 7.

  voice was low… From this minute on: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 17.

  yellow paper… Here are your instructions: Romanones, History of Pascualete, 7.

  Hay Adams Hotel… license number TX16248: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 17; History of Pascualete, 7. Aline provides the instructions in both accounts, although the details differ slightly. In The History of Pascualete, the hotel is the “Hotel Adams,” and the tag number is transposed: 24168 rather than 16248. The correct name of the hotel, which operates today, is the Hay Adams Hotel. The veracity of the clandestine procedure is verified by the virtually identical instructions given to Robert Dunev by Ryan’s predecessor, Lieutenant Commander William Vanderbilt, a year earlier. In his memoir, Dunev writes (Spy Reminisces, 9): He then told me to be at the East entrance of the Mayflower Hotel that afternoon, before five, that afternoon, and that when a black Ford, license plate #___arrived, I was to introduce myself to the driver as “Bobby.” When I arrived at the Mayflower… I found three other civilians… awaiting the arrival of the same black Ford.

  Destroy it afterward: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 17.

  Stop! Stop!… thoughts of being kidnapped: Ibid., 18.

  the driver constantly checked: Dunev, Spy Reminisces, 9.

  Lothian Farm… RTU-11… The Farm: John Whiteclay Chambers II, “Office of Strategic Services Training During World War II,” 3, 8. See also, John Whiteclay Chambers II, OSS Training in the National Parks and and Service Abroad in World War II, 59, 61, 63. For Aline’s brief summary of her training here, see Romanones, “The OSS in Spain,” 123. Her detailed account, perhaps embellished in places, is found at The Spy Wore Red, 19, et seq.

  gunfire: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 19.

  I’m Captain Williams: Dunev, Spy Reminisces, 10. In The Spy Wore Red (p. 19), Aline uses an alias for this Army officer, referring to him as “Whiskey.”

  Captain Williams seemed to know… Pierre: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 19. The OSS had seven training areas and two assessment stations, and often recruits would train at more than one area, thus meeting staff and other recruits. Aside from RTU-11, the training areas were Area A (advanced special and morale operations, and operational groups) in Prince William Forest Park, Virginia; Area B (basic special operations and advanced operational groups) in Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland: Area C (communications) in Prince William Forest Park, Virginia: Area D (maritime and special operations) in Smith’s Point, Maryland: Area E (basic secret intelligence, counter-intelligence, and morale operations) in Towson, Maryland: and Area F (basic operational groups and assessment) in the Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland. The assessment areas were Area S, in Country Estate Fairfax, Virginia, and Area W, in Townhouse, Washington, DC. See Chambers, “Office of Strategic Services Training,” 3.

  suspended from the ceiling… life-size dummies: Dunev, Spy Reminisces, 10. The photo of four of The Farm’s life-size dummies is located at RG 226, Entry UD 161, Box 10, NARA.

  a sergeant: Dunev, Spy Reminisces, 10. Dunev has a sergeant assisting Captain Williams, and it appears that Aline gave him the alias “Sphinx.” His true identity may have been Mr. Melas, the Welfare Officer at The Farm. See “Schedule of Instructors-RTU-11, Class B-17, 11 Dec.–23 Dec. 1944,” RG 226, Entry UD 161, Box 12, NARA.

  Why don’t you: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 20.

  Wansborough and Beaulieu… proclivity to talk: See Larry Loftis, CODE NAME: LISE—The True Story of the Woman Who Became WWII’s Most Highly Decorated Spy, 16–20. See also M. R. D. Foot, S.O.E.: The Special Operations Executive, 1940–46, 79–86; M. R. D. Foot, SOE in France, 53, 55.

  from one of the beds: Dunev, Spy Reminisces, 10.

  Not a word: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 21. Aline gives this roommate the code name “Magic,” which was not the case; The Farm used first-name aliases, rather than code names. See note accompanying walls… filing cabinets on page 276.

  Someone would be listening… dismissed: Ibid., 12.

  the only women among: Romanones, “The OSS in Spain,” 123.

  How would she compete: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 24.

  You’re probably wondering: Romanones, History of Pascualete, 8. See also Spy Wore Red, 23. In The History of Pascualete, Aline has this meeting occurring immediately after arrival, in the officer’s office; in The Spy Wore Red, she places it after dinner in the library.

  Operations and Intelligence: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 23. Aline’s remembrance of the OSS sections is slightly confused (for example, referring to the MO division as Mobile Operations, rather than the correct title, Morale Operations), but she writes that it was after dinner at this meeting when the recruits were given an overview of OSS work and why they were being considered. For a complete chart of the OSS sections, see Lawrence H. McDonald, “The OSS and Its Records,” The Secrets War: The Office of Strategic Services in World War II, 92.

  President Franklin D. Roosevelt had: See McDonald, “The OSS and Its Records,” 81.

  The course would last several weeks: For most students, the course lasted three or four weeks. See Chambers, “Office of Strategic Services Training,” 8 (indicating a four-week term). For Aline’s coding room colleague, Robert Dunev, the course lasted three weeks; Dunev, Spy Reminisces, 14. Aline’s OSS personnel file is a bit contradictory. On her summary personnel card, it shows: “School: 11/1/43–11/29/43.” However, Robert Wauchope’s correspondence to Weston Howland on November 22, 1943, indicates that Aline had finished her training and was expected to be sent to Spain. RG 226, Entry A1 224, OSS Personnel Files 1941–1945, Box 294, NARA. Note also that some students received additional training at other OSS facilities.

  For a few: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 24.

  Class began: Robert Dunev remembered that classes began at 7:00 a.m. (Spy Reminisces, 12), while Aline recalled that classes began at 8:00 a.m. (Spy Wore Red, 25), but The Farm schedules for 1944 and 1945 reveal that they began at 8:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., respectively. See, e.g., class schedules for Class No. B-17 (commencing December 11, 1944) and Class No. B-28 (commencing May 14, 1945) at RG 226, Entry UD 161, Boxes 12 and 11, respectively
, NARA.

  our friend… The first thing: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 26. OSS records at NARA contain only a list of Farm instructors during December 1944. At this time the officer conducting the Tuesday-morning security class was a Lieutenant Dickens. “Schedule of Instructors-RTU-11, Class B-17, 11 Dec.–23 Dec. 1944,” RG 226, Entry UD 161, Box 12, NARA. Since Aline attended The Farm more than a year earlier, however, the instructor may well have been a captain, as Aline remembered.

  French… German… Belgian… Eastern Europe: Romanones, “The OSS in Spain,” 123.

  We’re here to save: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 26.

  next two hours… security… cover… cipher: See the class schedules for Class No. B-17 (commencing December 11, 1944) and Class No. B-28 (commencing May 14, 1945) at RG 226, Entry UD 161, Boxes 12 and 11, respectively, NARA. See generally, Chambers, “Office of Strategic Services Training,” 8. See also Romanones, “The OSS in Spain,” 123.

  weapons training: See the class schedules for Class No. B-17 (commencing December 11, 1944) and Class No. B-28 (commencing May 14, 1945) at RG 226, Entry UD 161, Boxes 12 and 11, respectively, NARA.

  .45 semi-automatic… hitting a tree… hand began to ache: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 40. See also Dunev, Spy Reminisces, 13.

  training film… mapping… fighting knife: See the class schedule for Class No. B-17 (commencing December 11, 1944) at RG 226, Entry UD 161, Boxes 12 and 11, respectively, NARA.

  instructor, Major William Fairbairn: See “Schedule of Instructors-RTU-11, Class B-17, 11 Dec.–23 Dec. 1944,” RG 226, Entry UD 161, Box 12 and the class schedule for Class No. B-17 (commencing December 11, 1944) at RG 226, Entry UD 161, Boxes 12 and 11, respectively, NARA.

  thirty years… Shanghai Municipal Police: W. E. Fairbairn, Get Tough! How to Win in Hand-to-Hand Fighting, as Taught to the British Commandos, and U.S. Armed Forces, v, back cover. See also correspondence from K. J. McEuen, Shanghai Police Commissioner, March 4, 1925, in the introduction to W. E. Fairbairn’s Defendu: Scientific Self-Defense.

  trained all US Marines: Fairbairn, Get Tough!, v.

  newspaper into a dagger: Romanones, “The OSS in Spain,” 123.

  Day Two… recruit… handle… close combat: See the class schedules for Class No. B-17 (commencing December 11, 1944) and Class No. B-28 (commencing May 14, 1945) at RG 226, Entry UD 161, Boxes 12 and 11, respectively, NARA.

  Dangerous Dan… The Shanghai Buster… six hundred fights… black belt… Defendu: George Langelaan, Knights of the Floating Silk, 65–74; Tank Todd and James Webb, Military Combat Masters of the 20th Century, 58; Loftis, Into the Lion’s Mouth, 161–65; I. C. B. Dear and M. R. D. Foot, eds., Oxford Companion to World War II, 1019; Denis Rigden, How to Be a Spy: The World War II SOE Training Manual, 15–17; Fairbairn, Defendu.

  .45…. .30-caliber carbine… Thompson submachine gun: See the “Master Outline of Two Weeks Basic O.S.S. Course at RTU-11, December 29, 1944” at RG 226, Entry UD 161, Box 12, NARA.

  recreation: See the class schedules for Class No. B-17 (commencing December 11, 1944) and Class No. B-28 (commencing May 14, 1945) at RG 226, Entry UD 161, Boxes 12 and 11, respectively, NARA.

  jumped stone walls… Come on: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 29.

  second week… close combat… weapons… lockpicking: Ibid.

  George… gangling man: Ibid., 28.

  Lieutenant Compton Crook: See “Schedule of Instructors-RTU-11, Class B-17, 11 Dec.–23 Dec. 1944,” RG 226, Entry UD 161, Box 12; see also Compton Crook’s March 13, 1945, correspondence to H. B. Cannon, RG 226, Entry UD 161, Box 11, NARA.

  Before you get your hands: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 28.

  Intelligence classes… slides of faces… maps: Ibid., 34.

  close combat practice… sensual: Ibid., 33–34.

  Chapter 3: Close Encounters

  November 13: November 13, 1943, was the day that Aline signed her OSS Oath of Office, and it was most likely signed and notarized while she was in Washington visiting Ryan to hear about her post in Madrid. These two events would have coincided with her completion of the first two weeks of training at The Farm, which covered the RTU-11 Basic Course outline. See “Master Outline of Two Weeks Basic O.S.S. Course at RTU-11” at RG 226, Entry UD 161, Box 12, NARA.

  push-ups… sit-ups… jujitsu… .45: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 40.

  You have a meeting, Royal: Ibid. In addition to disguising Frank Ryan’s real name (calling him “John Derby”), Aline also changed his code name from ROYAL to JUPITER. Where she does so, as here, I have used the correct name, ROYAL. Ryan’s four OSS files are listed under ROYAL and can be found at RG 226, Entry 139, Box 81, Stack 190, Row 8, Compartment 6, Shelf 6, and RG 226, Entry 127, Box 19, Stack 190, Row 7, Compartment 20, Shelf 7, NARA. Documents containing his code name include: correspondence with agent 527 on May 24 and June 16, 1943; letter to Colonel Rehm on August 2, 1943; and memo from E. M. Lucas to F. G. Dyas on June 21, 1943.

  Well, Butch: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 41 (replacing Tiger with Butch). Aline places the date when she first acquired a code name before she even enters The Farm, but this wasn’t the case; at The Farm she would have been given a normal first-name alias. Her acquisition of a field code name—BUTCH—appears to have occurred in this meeting with Ryan when he disclosed her assignment to Spain.

  her new code name: Aline has five files in the OSS records at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), one under her real name for the personnel file, and four under her code name, BUTCH. The personnel file is located at RG 226, Entry A1 224, OSS Personnel Files 1941–1945, Box 294, Stack 230, Row 86, Compartment 26, Shelf 3 (File “Griffith, Marie Aline”). The BUTCH files are located at RG 226, Entry 127, Box 22, Stack 190, Row 7, Compartment 20, Shelf 7 (three files under “BUTCH”) and at RG 226, Entry 197A, Box 76, Stack 190, Row 38, Compartment 24, Shelf 5 (filed under “BUTCH [Agent]”). While Aline discloses her true code name in The History of Pascualete (p. 8), published in 1963, she changes it to TIGER in her three espionage books: The Spy Wore Red (1987) (p. 16), The Spy Went Dancing (1990) (p. 24), and The Spy Wore Silk (1991) (p. 33). The change, not surprisingly, came from her publisher. Sam Vaughan, Aline’s editor at Random House, stated that her submitted title for The Spy Wore Red was CODE NAME: BUTCH. Since the name Butch “had other implications,” Random House felt, a change was in order (quoted in Barbara Kantrowitz, “Cloak and Daggers,” Newsweek, March 24, 1991). Ironically, since my 2019 release about female spy Odette Sansom is entitled CODE NAME: LISE, my book proposal for The Princess Spy carried the proposed title CODE NAME: BUTCH. Without knowing anything about Aline’s story with Random House, my literary agent said, “Um, no. That name conveys… um… You’ll need a different title.”

  In the Newsweek article, Aline states that she had multiple code names—Butch, Tiger, and Sugarlump, among others—but the only name appearing in her OSS files is BUTCH. In all likelihood, Aline borrowed the code name TIGER from the OSS cipher clerk with that code name who briefly worked in the Madrid office. See the January 17, 1944, Madrid station memo stating: “Attached are expenses incurred by ‘TIGER.’ Are not to be charged to his personal account but are to be absorbed by Madrid acct. Authority—Argus.” RG 226, Entry 197A, Box 76, NARA. Aline’s code-room colleague Robert Dunev writes in his memoir that this agent, TIGER, was subsequently deported from Spain after being caught trying to acquire pesetas (for the OSS Madrid office, which was running low on local currency) on the black market. Dunev, A Spy Reminisces, 50.

  In The History of Pascualete (p. 8) and The Spy Wore Red (p. 16), Aline also states that her agent code number was 527. This is inaccurate, as agent 527 was the chief of the Barcelona station. See the diagram of Spain personnel as of April 11, 1944, at RG 226, Entry 139, Box 81, NARA. Note also that Frank Ryan sent a detailed letter to agent 527 on May 24, 1943, months before he had even met Aline. RG 226, Entry 224, Box 669, NARA. Unfortunately, none of the documents in Aline’s files records her code number (all identifying her with only her real name
or BUTCH).

  Then I have passed… On the surface… King Alfonso: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 42–43.

  “before sunset”: Hugh Thomas, The Spanish Civil War, 32.

  Franco: The most accurate assessment of Franco’s political predicament and position is from a man who knew him fairly well, the US ambassador to Spain, Carlton J. H. Hayes, who published his memoir, Wartime Mission in Spain, 1942–1945, immediately after leaving his post in 1945. See generally, Stanley G. Payne, Franco and Hitler: Spain, Germany, and World War II, and Thomas, Spanish Civil War. Note in particular the role played by Conde de Romanones, Àlvaro Figueroa y Torres, Aline’s future grandfather-in-law, who was three times the president of King Alfonso XIII’s Council of Ministers, in The Spanish Civil War (p. 21).

  wolframite… tungsten: For a review of the importance of wolframite, particularly to Portugal, see Loftis, Into the Lion’s Mouth, 31, and Donald G. Stevens, “World War II Economic Warfare: The United States, Britain, and Portuguese Wolfram,” 539–55.

  Spain is still: Romanones, Spy Wore Red, 43.

  Admiral Canaris: Ibid., 43–44. For a short synopsis of Canaris vis-à-vis Franco and Spain, see Paul Leverkuehn, German Military Intelligence, 129–32. For a full treatment of Admiral Canaris, see John H. Waller, The Unseen War in Europe: Espionage and Conspiracy in the Second World War; William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich; and Anthony Cave Brown, Bodyguard of Lies.

  Oath of Office: RG 226, Entry A1 224, OSS Personnel Files 1941–1945, Box 294, NARA.

  Edmundo Lassalle… Walt Disney Company… $4,600: Huddleston, Edmundo, 35–36. The financial structure proved troublesome for Edmundo’s entire time in Spain. As Disney’s high-profile representative who would be actually performing real and valuable services for them, the company gave him a large ($5,000) expense account with which to entertain prospective clients. Notwithstanding Edmundo’s corporate cover, however, the OSS blocked this and held him to the same $7 per diem that other OSS agents received. The OSS’s PELOTA (Edmundo’s code name) Special Accounts file is replete with memo after memo dealing with this issue. RG 223, Entry 197A, Box 78, NARA.