Barry Wirth

This is where it gets hairy. The plan was to sprinkle these agents into mainland China, into Manchuria in specific. So they trained these teams to parachute in. They were supposed to be able to demonstrate that they could survive on the ground. and then indicate whether they had actually made contact with any local dissidents.

This is where it gets hairy. The plan was to sprinkle these agents into mainland China, into Manchuria in specific. So they trained these teams to parachute in. They were supposed to be able to demonstrate that they could survive on the ground. and then indicate whether they had actually made contact with any local dissidents.

This is where it gets hairy. The plan was to sprinkle these agents into mainland China, into Manchuria in specific. So they trained these teams to parachute in. They were supposed to be able to demonstrate that they could survive on the ground. and then indicate whether they had actually made contact with any local dissidents.

So in the summer of 1952, they dropped in the first team, never heard from them again. For Jack, that was a red flag for sure. But then they dropped in a second team, and unbeknownst to the CIA, these handlers, the team was identified very quickly and turned. so that the communist Chinese were instructing them how to report back. So they said, okay, we're on the ground. We've made camp.

So in the summer of 1952, they dropped in the first team, never heard from them again. For Jack, that was a red flag for sure. But then they dropped in a second team, and unbeknownst to the CIA, these handlers, the team was identified very quickly and turned. so that the communist Chinese were instructing them how to report back. So they said, okay, we're on the ground. We've made camp.

So in the summer of 1952, they dropped in the first team, never heard from them again. For Jack, that was a red flag for sure. But then they dropped in a second team, and unbeknownst to the CIA, these handlers, the team was identified very quickly and turned. so that the communist Chinese were instructing them how to report back. So they said, okay, we're on the ground. We've made camp.

We've established a presence here. We understand that there's a former Kuomintang general who we may be able to hook up with. You need to send in a courier so that we have some communications in between. They drop in the courier. And then as things develop, starting into the fall of 1952, the team is, and I should say that this is all being conducted by Morse code,

We've established a presence here. We understand that there's a former Kuomintang general who we may be able to hook up with. You need to send in a courier so that we have some communications in between. They drop in the courier. And then as things develop, starting into the fall of 1952, the team is, and I should say that this is all being conducted by Morse code,

We've established a presence here. We understand that there's a former Kuomintang general who we may be able to hook up with. You need to send in a courier so that we have some communications in between. They drop in the courier. And then as things develop, starting into the fall of 1952, the team is, and I should say that this is all being conducted by Morse code,

They're reporting that they need supplies for the winter and that the courier has much good news to report that the operations are proceeding and he needs to be fished out.

They're reporting that they need supplies for the winter and that the courier has much good news to report that the operations are proceeding and he needs to be fished out.

They're reporting that they need supplies for the winter and that the courier has much good news to report that the operations are proceeding and he needs to be fished out.

Exfiltrated. Yes. And this is where Jack comes into the story. So they were planning to fly back into Manchuria and literally snatch this person off the ground. and with a winch and hook apparatus that was in the back of the C-47. Wow. The CIA had recruited a couple of civilian volunteers who at the last moment said, this sounds way too dangerous. We don't want to do this.

Exfiltrated. Yes. And this is where Jack comes into the story. So they were planning to fly back into Manchuria and literally snatch this person off the ground. and with a winch and hook apparatus that was in the back of the C-47. Wow. The CIA had recruited a couple of civilian volunteers who at the last moment said, this sounds way too dangerous. We don't want to do this.

Exfiltrated. Yes. And this is where Jack comes into the story. So they were planning to fly back into Manchuria and literally snatch this person off the ground. and with a winch and hook apparatus that was in the back of the C-47. Wow. The CIA had recruited a couple of civilian volunteers who at the last moment said, this sounds way too dangerous. We don't want to do this.

So Jack knew how to operate the winch and hook apparatus and his superiors instructed him to get on the flight. Now, as he said, this was not under duress. He was happy to go. He was waiting to get into the action. He had spent almost a year as a rearguard drone in Japan, so he was eager to get in. But that was the mission that led to Downey's capture.

So Jack knew how to operate the winch and hook apparatus and his superiors instructed him to get on the flight. Now, as he said, this was not under duress. He was happy to go. He was waiting to get into the action. He had spent almost a year as a rearguard drone in Japan, so he was eager to get in. But that was the mission that led to Downey's capture.

So Jack knew how to operate the winch and hook apparatus and his superiors instructed him to get on the flight. Now, as he said, this was not under duress. He was happy to go. He was waiting to get into the action. He had spent almost a year as a rearguard drone in Japan, so he was eager to get in. But that was the mission that led to Downey's capture.

A hook.

A hook.