James Armistead Lafayette: Hero Spy of the American Revolution
James Armistead Lafayette. Credit: US Army. James Armistead Lafayette was born into slavery around the year 1748 in New Kent County, Virginia. He was raised on the property of Colonel…
The Langley Files: The CIA’s First Public Podcast
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), known for its clandestine operations and intelligence gathering, has taken a step towards transparency with its first public podcast, The Langley Files. The Langley Files…
The NRO: Pioneering Space-Based Intelligence
Aerial photograph of the National Reconnaissance Office by Trevor Paglen. Commissioned by Creative Time Reports, 2013. The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is a pivotal institution within the United States Intelligence…
The FP-45 Liberator: An Unconventional Weapon for Resistance
FP-45 Liberator. Photo: Armémuseum / CC BY 4.0 DEED. The FP-45 Liberator was a unique weapon developed during World War II by the United States. It was a single-shot handgun…
Captain Peter Mason: Official Assassin
Photo of Peter Mason, date unknown. Captain Peter Mason, a figure whose life was as intriguing as any spy novel, served in the British Special Air Service (SAS) during World…
The War Chronicles of Christopher Lee: Heroism or Hyperbole?
Christopher Lee in scene from “The Hound of the Baskervilles” (1959). United Artists. Public Domain. Sir Christopher Lee CBE CSU, renowned for his acting career, had an equally fascinating life…
F. F. E. Yeo-Thomas: The White Rabbit of World War II
RAF Wing Commander and SOE agent Forest Frederick Edward Yeo-Thomas, also known as F. F. E. Yeo-Thomas, was born on June 17, 1902, in London, England. His parents were John…
The Lockheed Electra 12: A Spy in the Sky
Lockheed 12A Electra Junior. Photo: Eric Salard / CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED. The Lockheed Electra 12, more commonly known as the Lockheed 12 or L-12, was an eight-seat, six-passenger all-metal…
Ernest Hemingway: A Hidden Spy Past
Hemingway in the cabin of his boat Pilar, off the coast of Cuba, c. 1950 Ernest Hemingway, a celebrated American author, is known for his novels and literary contributions. However, a…
Roald Dahl: Renowned Author and World War II Spy
Roald Dahl in 1954. Roald Dahl was born on September 13, 1916, in Cardiff, Wales, to Norwegian immigrant parents. He experienced a challenging childhood, losing both his sister and father…