Source: William Stevenson. A Man Called Intrepid - The Incredible True Story
of the Master Spy That Helped Win World War II (1976, 2000)
of the Master Spy That Helped Win World War II (1976, 2000)
William Stephenson grew up in the plains of Western Canada near Winnipeg in a family that was largely self-reliant. Stephenson loved to tinker and innovate (his middle name was Samuel, after Samuel Morse), and he eventually became an expert with the radio. Right after graduating high school, Stephenson volunteered to serve in the Great War, and he was sent straight to the trenches with the Royal Canadian Engineers. Before Stephenson turned 19, he had been promoted to captain, in part due to his bravery, and also due to the incredible number of British officers that were killed in action. After a suffering a second attack of poison gas, Stephenson was classified as "disabled for life" and was scheduled to return to Britain.
During his time in Europe, Stephenson came across William Donovan, who was near the front on behalf of the American War Relief Commission, whose mission was to try and find a way to reduce the horrific number of KIA's. At age 33, Donovan was a successful lawyer in New York City, and also a top-notch investigator. In 1916, Stephenson made a great impression on Donovan, since Stephenson asked/answered questions that helped Donovan's mission. Among the topics that Stephenson discussed with Donovan was that he believed that in the end, Germany would lose the war since the nation was fighting for
"bad reasons".
During his time in Europe, Stephenson came across William Donovan, who was near the front on behalf of the American War Relief Commission, whose mission was to try and find a way to reduce the horrific number of KIA's. At age 33, Donovan was a successful lawyer in New York City, and also a top-notch investigator. In 1916, Stephenson made a great impression on Donovan, since Stephenson asked/answered questions that helped Donovan's mission. Among the topics that Stephenson discussed with Donovan was that he believed that in the end, Germany would lose the war since the nation was fighting for
"bad reasons".
Stephenson was not allowed to go back to the front, so he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps; he covered up his medical status which wasn't too difficult in that he wasn't asked any probing questions. After just five hours of instruction, Stephenson was deemed combat ready as a pilot, even though he looked like he was an invalid. But looks were deceiving: Stephenson would soon become the 73rd Squadron's equivalent of Eddie Rickenbacker, the American "Ace of Aces".
Stephenson figured out that the Red Baron's brother, Lothar, was the far-more dangerous German fighter pilot, hitting British targets that actually mattered instead of going for the easy glory-kills for statistics and self-promotion (as his brother often did). Stephenson's report on Lothar caught the attention of the man in charge of British intelligence during World War I, Admiral Sir Reginald "Blinker" Hall (an eye constantly twitched, earning him the nickname). Technically, Hall was the Director of Naval Intelligence, but his power and influence dominated all of British intelligence, even after being removed from his naval post in 1915 due to political reasons. Hall was the one that had intercepted and decrypted the Zimmerman Telegram in 1917, which at that point had been the most significant intelligence coup for Britain.
Stephenson figured out that the Red Baron's brother, Lothar, was the far-more dangerous German fighter pilot, hitting British targets that actually mattered instead of going for the easy glory-kills for statistics and self-promotion (as his brother often did). Stephenson's report on Lothar caught the attention of the man in charge of British intelligence during World War I, Admiral Sir Reginald "Blinker" Hall (an eye constantly twitched, earning him the nickname). Technically, Hall was the Director of Naval Intelligence, but his power and influence dominated all of British intelligence, even after being removed from his naval post in 1915 due to political reasons. Hall was the one that had intercepted and decrypted the Zimmerman Telegram in 1917, which at that point had been the most significant intelligence coup for Britain.
Stephenson was the only level-headed and accurate air analyst as far as Hall was concerned, and soon Hall discovered that Stephenson was an expert on wireless communications, which was a necessity in intelligence. Stephenson suggested that Hall create a database in order to cross-reference the tendencies of German pilots, which Stephenson wanted at least in part to take Lothar out of the skies. On 21 March 1918, Lothar patrolled a region that was heavy with British planes, and Stephenson was leading his squadron in an escort role for those British pilots. Stephenson forced Lothar to crash, and while the German pilot lived, he was never again able to pilot a plane.
Later, Stephenson was wounded in the leg by mistaken friendly fire from a French pilot as Stephenson tried to help out French planes under attack from German pilots. Stephenson would get wounded in the same leg a second time, and on the ground he was taken prisoner by the Germans and kept under close guard so there was no escape; keeping veteran enemy pilots out of the air was a top priority for the German High Command. Stephenson slowly healed, but he exaggerated the extent of his injuries to convince his German captors that he was unable to escape. After only a week as a prisoner, Stephenson had already figured out the best method and route for his escape.
Later, Stephenson was wounded in the leg by mistaken friendly fire from a French pilot as Stephenson tried to help out French planes under attack from German pilots. Stephenson would get wounded in the same leg a second time, and on the ground he was taken prisoner by the Germans and kept under close guard so there was no escape; keeping veteran enemy pilots out of the air was a top priority for the German High Command. Stephenson slowly healed, but he exaggerated the extent of his injuries to convince his German captors that he was unable to escape. After only a week as a prisoner, Stephenson had already figured out the best method and route for his escape.
Stephenson was mobile enough to escape by October 1918, and had stolen enough kitchen utensils to create makeshift wire cutters. Stephenson stole the commandant's family portrait as a direct insult and was on his way to freedom an hour before dawn. Stephenson reached Allied lines three days later, and then submitted a detailed report on the Germany prison camp where he had been held. That report worked its way up to Hall, who was in the process of adding young men to his intelligence network.
Hall wanted Stephenson to be a part of British intelligence, but Stephenson was too well known, since he was a British "Ace of Aces" with 26 confirmed kills, as well as distinguishing himself in the trenches before he did so in the skies. Interestingly, Stephenson had become a very good boxer during WW I at the same time Gene Tunney served for the US in the Marines in Europe. Stephenson and Tunney became lifelong friends and business partners, and Tunney's success in the ring when he became the undefeated world champion would help Stephenson's efforts in British intelligence during World War II.
In 1918, Hall was in the process of becoming part of the military and political background in Britain in order to be able to effectively run his intelligence groups, which he would do for the next quarter-century. Hall had already established the British Secret Intelligence Service in the US during the Great War, and his operating budget was kept secret. Hall very badly wanted to find a role in his intelligence apparatus for William Stephenson . . .
Hall wanted Stephenson to be a part of British intelligence, but Stephenson was too well known, since he was a British "Ace of Aces" with 26 confirmed kills, as well as distinguishing himself in the trenches before he did so in the skies. Interestingly, Stephenson had become a very good boxer during WW I at the same time Gene Tunney served for the US in the Marines in Europe. Stephenson and Tunney became lifelong friends and business partners, and Tunney's success in the ring when he became the undefeated world champion would help Stephenson's efforts in British intelligence during World War II.
In 1918, Hall was in the process of becoming part of the military and political background in Britain in order to be able to effectively run his intelligence groups, which he would do for the next quarter-century. Hall had already established the British Secret Intelligence Service in the US during the Great War, and his operating budget was kept secret. Hall very badly wanted to find a role in his intelligence apparatus for William Stephenson . . .
