by Don Mitchell
She had several … : Report of Virginia Hall by Maurice Buckmaster, January 15, 1943, UK National Archives
Chapter 8: Wartime France through a Spy’s Eyes
She noted, “The Jews …” : Via Western Union to Post NYC, Wireless Berne-Lyons, June 22, 1942, Virginia Hall, UK National Archives
She had earlier noted that … : Virginia Hall telegram, article to New York Post, Little Neck, New York, September 30, 1941, UK National Archives
“the metal collected …”: Virginia Hall telegram, article to New York Post, Little Neck, New York, September 16, 1941, UK National Archives
Virginia also addressed … : Cable to New York Post at Little Neck, New York, October 1941, by Virginia Hall, UK National Archives
the Vichy regime’s efforts … : Article by Virginia Hall, November 17, [1941?], New York Post, UK National Archives
and a woman … : Virginia Hall telegram, article to New York Post, Little Neck, New York, September 14, 1941, UK National Archives
Virginia even wrote … : “La Charmante” by Virginia Hall, September 1942, UK National Archives
As Virginia wrote … : Typed letter from “V.H.” to Nic, November 25, 1942, UK National Archives
She observed that … : Typed memo signed Marie (Virginia Hall), W.O.—055A, April 22, 1942, UK National Archives
“Everybody eats less …”: “Odd Bits,” Lyon, October 1941, Virginia Hall, UK National Archives, Ref. HS 9/647/4 CG79739
“I have been living …”: Ibid.
But the sisters … : Ibid.
Fishing, for example … : Ibid.
Virginia noted that … : Ibid.
Because of the war … : Ibid.
This tended, she … : Ibid.
“it’s dismal to be … ”: Ibid.
Virginia argued that … : Ibid.
On another occasion … : Ibid.
By 9:00 a.m…. : Ibid.
Astonished, Virginia said … : Ibid.
After the first leg … : Ibid.
When the bus … : Ibid.
Virginia concluded that … : Ibid.
Chapter 9: Taking Care of British Agents
By October 1941 … : Summary of Virginia Hall’s background, C00024292, NARA
At the time … Historical Dictionary of WWII France, p. 312
Virginia said, “I can …”: Typed letter from “V.H.” to Nic, November 25, 1942, UK National Archives
and she had … : Ibid.
and Virginia developed … : Letter from Margaret Rossiter to Virginia Hall, September 27, 1980, and Virginia Hall’s November 17, 1980, response, Women in the Resistance papers
Because of Virginia’s … : Sisterhood of Spies: The Women of the OSS, pp. 116–117
“I’m going shooting …”: Typed letter from “V.H.” to Nic, November 25, 1942, UK National Archives
Several days after … : Letter from Virginia Hall to Nic, January 5, 1942, UK National Archives
Virginia went on … : Ibid.
Back in December 1941 … : They Fought Alone, p. 3
Buckmaster had been … : F Section, SOE: The Buckmaster Networks, pp. 12–13
Buckmaster, along with … : They Fought Alone, p. 17
Atkins was known … : ‘Jacqueline’: Pioneer Heroine of the Resistance, p. 77
Lieutenant Churchill was … : Duel of Wits, p. 21
One evening in January 1942 … : Ibid., p. 61
“Mademoiselle is not …”: Ibid., p. 64
“All I knew …”: Ibid., p. 66
“Isn’t he taking …”: Ibid., p. 68
As the dinner progressed … : Ibid., p. 69
Peter was flattered … : Ibid., p. 70
Virginia was impressed … : Ibid.
The next day … : Ibid., p. 71
Peter gave Charles … : Ibid., p. 72
Later, Charles slid … : Ibid., p. 77
Then Peter took … : Ibid., p. 79
Virginia skillfully maneuvered … : Ibid., p. 80
Virginia introduced Peter … : Ibid.
The next morning, Peter … : Ibid., p. 82
Discouraged and disgusted … : Ibid., p. 83
“I suppose they …”: Ibid.
Now the only thing … : Ibid., p. 84
With his mission done … : Ibid., pp. 85–86
Another SOE agent … : They Fought Alone, p. 76
At the outset … : Ibid., p. 79
Denis was placed … : Ibid., p. 83
From Gibraltar, Denis … : Ibid., p. 84
The money had … : Ibid., p. 82
Eventually, Denis and … : Ibid., p. 96
That first night … : Ibid., p. 97
Virginia tapped into … : Ibid.
“We should have found . . .”: Ibid., p. 97
“I don’t much like …” : Ibid., p. 98
Clément suggested telling … : Ibid., p. 98
“I want a room …”: Ibid., p. 99
The prostitute explained … : Ibid., p. 99
Eventually, the Milice … : Ibid., pp. 102–103
For example, two of Virgina’s … : Memo signed by Marie (Virginia Hall), March 3, 1942, UK National Archives
Virginia complained to London … : Ibid.
In a communication … : Ibid.
Chapter 10: Abbé Alesch: Friend or Foe?
He told her … : Typed report to the SOE by Marie (Virginia Hall), September 6, 1942, UK National Archives
Virginia met the courier … : 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; Frankline, Luxembourger), April 12, 1945, NARA
A British agent … : Typed report to the SOE by Marie (Virginia Hall), September 6, 1942, UK National Archives
The abbé spoke … : From: Virginia Hall, To: Chief, SO Branch, Forward, Subject: Abbé Alesch (Daquin, Aquin, or Jacquin), June 11, 1945, NARA
London responded to … : Ibid.
Virginia noted that … : Typed report to the SOE by Marie (Virginia Hall), September 6, 1942, UK National Archives
Chapter 11: The River Is Rising: Virginia’s Final Days in Lyon
One day in September … : From Philomène (Virginia Hall), September 21, 1942, UK National Archives
A contact Virginia … : Ibid.
Virginia was ultimately … : From Philomène (Virginia Hall), September 30, 1942, UK National Archives
Adding to the … : Ibid.
As Virginia noted … : Ibid.
Alex and Fabian were … : Ibid.
In addition, Pompey … : Ibid.
She made the travel … : Ibid.
In the first week … : Ibid.
One of the British … : The Heroines of SOE: Britain’s Secret Women in France F Section, p. 36
one British agent … : Watch for Me By Moonlight, p. 68
While her name … : From Philomène (Virginia Hall), September 21, 1942, UK National Archives
“The woman who limps …”: Sisterhood of Spies: The Women of the OSS, p. 114
She wrote London … : From Philomène (Virginia Hall), September 21, 1942, UK National Archives
But Virginia reported … : From Philomène (Virginia Hall), September 30, 1942, UK National Archives
Yet she offered … : Ibid.
Virginia was undoubtedly … : Ibid. (Virginia was conscientious about providing her headquarters with an accounting of her work and passed along to London a list of her receipts and expenditures, and she was also on the lookout for other operational opportunities. She noted that she could accomplish things in Limoges, over 170 miles from Lyon, if she was either given permission to do it herself, or if she could be sent “a good man for it.” She stated, however, that she would be overextending herself to undertake more work in Limoges, noting that “the only trouble is that I am doing too much as it is and find it hard to swing around the circuit fast enough.”)
Chapter 12: Virginia’s Esca
pe
On November 5, 1942 … : Memo initialed by “MB” with the signature of Virginia Hall, November 5, 1942, passport details were as follows: American passport No. 2019, issued in London on March 31, 1941, renewed in Lyons November 28, 1942, bearing a French visa aller et retour (round trip) stamp, valid until February 15, 1943, UK National Archives
Buckmaster requested that … : Memo initialed by “MB” with the signature of Virginia Hall, November 5, 1942, UK National Archives
On Saturday, November … : From Philomène (Virginia Hall), initialed by “MB,” December 4, 1942, Barcelona, Spain, UK National Archives
She immediately began … : Ibid.
An agent reported … : Sabotage and Subversion, p. 145
On Sunday morning … : The Resistance, p. 148
Virginia was strongly encouraged … : From Philomène (Virginia Hall), initialed by “MB,” December 4, 1942, Barcelona, Spain, UK National Archives
At 9:00 that evening … : “Means of Escape,” report by Virginia Hall, January 18, 1943, UK National Archives
As one scholar … : SOE in France: An Account of the Work of the British Special Operations Executive in France 1940–1944, p. 155
Virginia packed her bag … : “Means of Escape,” report by Virginia Hall, January 18, 1943, UK National Archives
Virginia left Perpignan … : Letter from Virginia Hall to Margaret Rossiter, November 17, 1980, Women in the Resistance papers
She stated, “Cuthbert …”: Sisterhood of Spies: The Women of the OSS, p. 118
In the predawn … : “Means of Escape,” report by Virginia Hall, January 18, 1943, UK National Archives
Virginia was placed … : Letter from Virginia Hall to Margaret Rossiter, June 8, 1979, Women in the Resistance papers
A younger woman … : Letter from Virginia Hall to Margaret Rossiter, November 17, 1980, Women in the Resistance papers
Virginia would be … : From Philomène (Virginia Hall), initialed by “MB,” December 4, 1942, Barcelona, Spain, UK National Archives
And on January … : Card signed “Buckmaster” regarding Virginia Hall, [194-], UK National Archives
Chapter 13: On the Sidelines in Spain
She told her SOE colleagues … : Report by Virginia Hall (II), Location of W/T sets, January 16, 1943, UK National Archives
In early May 1943 … : From: D/F, To: D/R, regarding Miss Virginia Hall, May 5, 1943, UK National Archives
In discussing her … : Ibid.
As one official … : Ibid.
The bureaucratic transition … : Ibid.
She had no … : Cipher telegram received from Madrid, July 9, 1943, UK National Archives
“Since August 1941 …”: Memo, no signature, October 19, 1942, UK National Archives
In a telegram … Telegram to Madrid, July 18, 1943, UK National Archives
In early October … : “F. from DFV,” from Virginia Hall, October 1943, UK National Archives
Maurice Buckmaster responded … : Maurice Buckmaster to Virginia Hall, October 6, 1943, UK National Archives
“You are really …”: Ibid.
He told her … : Ibid.
Buckmaster wanted Virginia … : Ibid.
Buckmaster conceded that … : Ibid.
Soon, Virginia was … : To “D/FV,” October 7, 1943, UK National Archives
Virginia returned to … : Undated profile of Virginia Hall’s SOE career, UK National Archives
Part Three: Spying for Uncle Sam
Chapter 14: The OSS: America’s Wartime Spy Service
In the years … : The Office of Strategic Services: America’s First Intelligence Agency, by the CIA History Staff, 2007
William J. Donovan was a … : Ibid.
At the time … : Ibid.
The newly established … : Organizational Development of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1942–2013, Joint History Office, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, April 2013, p. 1
It was decided … : The Office of Strategic Services: America’s First Intelligence Agency, by the CIA History Staff, 2007
By late 1944 … : Ibid.
British and American intelligence … : Ibid.
The OSS Special Operations Branch … : Ibid.
Chapter 15: The Great Adventure: Virginia’s Return to France
Philippe de Vomécourt had worked … : An Army of Amateurs, p. 223
As she later said… : Letter from Virginia Hall to Margaret Rossiter, June 8, 1979, Women in the Resistance papers
When de Vomécourt met … : An Army of Amateurs, pp. 223–224
Virginia’s OSS companion … : Application for employment and personal history statement, June 4, 1943, Henry L. Laussucq, NARA
In August 1943… : Activity report by Henry L. Laussucq (Aramis), September 13, 1944, NARA
Aramis’s guidance was … : Ibid.
Virginia was going … : Ibid.
Buckmaster liked to … : SOE in France: An Account of the Work of the British Special Operations Executive in France 1940–1944, p. 46
The colonel gave Aramis … : “Operation Dulverton” and Virginia Hall’s transit to France, March 23, 1944, UK National Archives
The next day … : Activity report by Henry L. Laussucq (Aramis), September 13, 1944, NARA
The boat was … : Undated Virginia Hall note to Margaret Rossiter apparently responding to Rossiter’s, May 12, [197-], Women in the Resistance papers
Then, as Aramis … : Activity report by Henry L. Laussucq (Aramis), September 13, 1944, NARA
Chapter 16: Setting Up Shop
After coming ashore … : Activity report by Henry L. Laussucq (Aramis), September 13, 1944, NARA
Next, they were … : Ibid.
From the doctor’s office … : Ibid.
They met up … : “The Heckler Mission: Activity Report of Virginia Hall (Diane) the Woman Member of the Team,” September 30, 1944, OSS Aid to French Resistance in WWII: RG 226 OSS E 190, Folder 1472, F Section Missions, NARA. (Reports by some OSS personnel covering their participation in F Section operations henceforth to be referenced as “Virginia Hall activity report, September 30, 1944, NARA.”)
The following morning … : Activity report by Henry L. Laussucq (Aramis), September 13, 1944, NARA
The next day … : Ibid.
Nevertheless, the farmer … : Virginia Hall activity report, September 30, 1944, NARA
between July 14 … : To: Lt Col van der Stricht, From: Lt de Roussy de Sales, narrative on work of Virginia Hall, December 15, 1944, C00024324, NARA
Chapter 17: Virginia Transfers to the OSS
By this time … : F Section, SOE: The Buckmaster Networks, p. 9
But as an OSS … : From: FH/US, To: DR/US, regarding Miss Virginia Hall, March 18, 1944, C00024311, NARA
“I have interviewed …”: Ibid.
On April 1, 1944 … : Western European Section, SO Branch, Subject: Virginia Hall, To Major Robert H. Alcorn from Thomas G. Upton, Captain, F.D., April 3 1944, C00024312, NARA
For example, on the same day … : The Resistance, pp. 199–200
“We were made to walk …”: Ibid.
Despite the danger … : Virginia Hall activity report, September 30, 1944, NARA
“Aramis came to …”: Ibid.
Once, Virginia was … : Activity report by Henry L. Laussucq (Aramis), September 13, 1944, NARA
In early May … : Ibid.
Virginia made it … : Virginia Hall activity report, September 30, 1944, NARA
A few days later … : Ibid.
“From a security point … ”: To: Mrs. Hall, From: Charlotte Norris of the 1st Experimental Detachment, June 2, 1944, C00024283, NARA
Virginia would later … : Sisterhood of Spies: The Women of the OSS, pp. 124–125
Virginia’s niece recalled … : Ibid., p. 125
Lorna Catling winced … : Lorna Catling interview
Chapter 18: Supporting D-Day and Operations in the Haute-Loire
The June 6, 1944 … : The Resistanc
e, p. 244
One OSS veteran … : “He jumped into Normandy, ran spies in Moscow, retired at 90,” by Ken Kilanian, November 25, 2015, Military Times. (Hugh Montgomery would go on to have a long and distinguished career at the CIA.)
The invasion brought about … : Historical Dictionary of World War II France, p. 222
The goal of … : The Resistance, p. 245
Within twenty-four hours … : Ibid.
After landing on … : Wild Bill Donovan: The Spymaster Who Created the OSS and Modern American Espionage, pp. 244–245
In the weeks … : Virginia Hall activity report, September 30, 1944, NARA
After Aramis acquired … : Activity report by Henry L. Laussucq (Aramis), September 13, 1944, NARA
Chapter 19: Virginia Goes Her Own Way
At the request … : Virginia Hall activity report, September 30, 1944, NARA
Virginia’s deputy in … : Ibid.
Around July 9 … : Ibid.
During this period … : Ibid.
Virginia arrived in … : Ibid.
At that time … : Ibid.
Because no living arrangements … : Ibid.
The wife of … : Subject: Investigation of Report of Virginia Hall + Diane + Nicolas, To: C.O., SO/WE, December 6, 1944, HQ & HQ Detachment Office of Strategic Services European Theater of Operations United States Army SO/WE Section, NARA
After living and … : Virginia Hall activity report, September 30, 1944, NARA
The small Protestant … : Historical Dictionary of World War II France, p. 217
Madame Lebrat’s husband … : Virginia Hall activity report, September 30, 1944, NARA
Despite the risk … : Ibid.
Virginia recalled that … : Ibid.
The mountainous, broken terrain … : Women in the Resistance, p. 195
Virginia noted that … : Virginia Hall activity report, September 30, 1944, NARA
Any weapons Virginia … : Ibid.
But because of … : Ibid.
A Jedburgh team … : Ibid.
Still, Virginia was … : Ibid.
The Jedburghs had … : Ibid.
In another letter … : Ibid.
A major victory … : Historical Dictionary of World War II France, p. 380
As directed in … : Silver Star awarded by President Harry S. Truman and presented to Henry L. Laussucq by Major General William J. Donovan, Director of OSS, in Washington, DC, on September 12, 1945, NARA
However, Aramis remained … : Activity report by Henry L. Laussucq (Aramis), September 13, 1944, NARA