Espionage discussion
The Forger
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In the film 'Catch Me If You Can', Frank Abagnale shows a fellow school pupil how to fold a letter from her parents (if my memory is still ...) making the letter seem more authentic. Rob's input to the 'pick-up-and-run-passport' question, I found most interesting. In our digital, biometric, world, it's easy to overlook the proven ways of painting authenticity onto a document. I can now imagine how important it is for 'certain' organisations to procure currently used 'stamps' of all kinds, not just entry/exit for a passport and ferry this back to the 'forgers'. For me, this discussion conjured up ideas of bucket loads of wallets, purses, handbags being shaken and rolled around to age the items. I can imagine 'certain' organisations having a department responsible for the entire 'work outfit' used by some. Hard learnt lessons by SOE come to mind: when you parachute into France make sure the shirt you're wearing has a French label sewn on it not a London tailor's label: and make sure the shirt does not look brand, 'spanking', new. The bought yesterday shine, I think your favourite author calls it.All good points, Mary. Lots to get your teeth into.
He does: that sailed past without so much as a glance from me. 'The idea of parachuting a spy in went long ago': again authenticity.The Riddle of the Sands: no need for a passport when travelling Europe: wallet litter? I wonder if that is how things were done back then: tickets, receipts for board and lodging, etc.
In Operation Mincemeat, the wallet litter was one of the highest priorities. They spent a good deal of effort on that.
Thanks for this Mary and thanks for the review Rob. I'll put this on my WTR. And John: the wardrobe dept sounds so obvious (now you've mentioned it).
Thanks for the tip. I'll put this on my list.
I'll put this on my WTR list.Great review, Rob.
I wanted to put this out there for everyone: the discussion prompted by Gisela brought out some good points and here's book which tells how it was done successfully: hehehe. I do enjoy finding out about these things.
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I read this some years ago: the discussion, I think kicked off by Gisela [the pick-up and run passport, mentioned in the book, ‘A Chosen Path’] prompted me to take another look.
Living and working in Berlin, during the second war, a graphic artist becomes a forger: with genuine stamps as reference and the clever use of inks he is able to reproduce the stamps needed for forged identities allowing many to escape the Nazi death camps.
At one point the forger provides himself with a passbook containing many stamps over a long period of time, giving the book authenticity. The expertise spoken of here show how these lessons were carried forward: even today ’forgers’ are provided with genuine entry and exit stamps and use their skills to make stamps and inks that allow passports that have never left the country to show a history of travel and thus provide authentication for the passport.
The is a good message for all interested in such things: with the skills it's possible, but, and it's a BIG BUT, showing a history, usage, is as important, if not more important, than a good quality product.
A first hand account and I’d say not shy of telling it all: worts and all.
A young man with a young man’s head: absentminded, and naive and guilty of daydreaming, fantasying, forgetfulness. It makes for an engaging read.
It was nothing but luck, as he readily admits, that saw him through it.
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That's all folks.