Fannies

[Jon Skagfeld]

IIRC, FANY was a conduit to female participation in clandestine ops in, particularly, Occupied France.

Some agents, once part of OSS, OSE (?), having been trained at Camp X in Ontario, Canada, moved on to further training in England.

Sufficient training having been achieved, some females of FANY origin were parachuted into France to assist with controlling certain networks.

Without reference to material immediately at hand, I can shotgun a couple of names......

Noor Inayat Khan ("Madelaine") who should most probably never have been sent to France.

Violette Szabo(nee Bushell..."Louise", portrayed by Virginia McKenna (she of "Born Free" fame), in the movie "Carve Her Name With Pride".

Pearl Witherington, Virginia Hall, et al.

Much debate there was in Baker Street about the use of women in warfare. Gubbins was instrumental in leading, with success, the party that contended against the Nazis that no holds ought to be barred. (Quote:MRD Foot, SOE 1940-46, BBC 1984.

...OK, so I found some reference material!!!