Airborne espionage

At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the transport of 'spies' across enemy lines by aircraft was not regarded as a priority. In fact, there was no formal organisation for these flights and no communications network between the air forces and their agents - apart from homing pigeons and the occasional telephone call. The situation had not improved to any great extent by the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. The Second World War saw the rapid development of infrastructures by the Allies to support their SD operations, mirrored in other combatant nations' activities. Operating in all weathers, invariably at night, often at low level and usually without fighter escort, the SD squadrons and units paid a heavy price in aircrew killed and missing. By their very nature, these operations went unreported in wartime and for some considerable time thereafter. The exploits of British and Commonwealth, American, Free European, Soviet, German, Italian and Japanese airmen and units are recorded in this compelling narrative account.