LETTER TO MR. R. W. KOCH FROM(Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75B00380R000200090043-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 21, 2006
• Sequence Number: 43
• Publication Date: April 17, 1973
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2006/09/25 : CIA-RDP75B0038OR000200090043-8
17 April 1972
Mr. R. W. Koch
Dear Mr. Koch
In reply to your letter of 8 April 1972, I can
confirm that the OSS packing station was at
Holme, England, not Holmby.
My files do not reflect the designation of the
squadron that supported the drop operations. The
airplanes used were not C-47's, but specially
equipped B-24's and A-26's. In these files
there is no mention of the "Liberator" pistol.
(ASS did not change its name to Special Forces
Headquarters. That designation was given to the
Special Operations Branch and the British SOE
(Special Operations Executive) that worked to-
gether in air supply activities. Special Forces
Headquarters, whose personnel were both British
and American, came into being on 1 May 1944.
Your information that OSS did not operate in the
Philippine Islands during World War II is correct.
Sincerely yours
Executive Secretary
ACR:dm (17 April 1972)
Distribution:
Orig - Addressee
Approved FoF RbR0Aa20( Q9j25 : CIA-RDP75B0038OR000200090043-8
1 - C/IS/SS file
 Approved For Release 2006/09/25 : CIA-RDP75B0038OR000200090043-8
8 April 1972
Pertaining to the research being conducted on the FP-45 "Liberator" pistol
which you mentioned in your last letter to me dated 18 February 1972 concerning
several of these pistols being transfered to CIA in 1959 from the Raritan Arsena
a check was made on the Raritan Arsenal and it was determined that the arsenal
was discontinued as a Department of the Army installation on 30 June 1966.8ecaus
of this, no information was obtained from Raritan.
Now, during the first part of this April, two hundred and fifty of these
pistols were placed on sale by International Firearms Ltd, Montreal, Canada at
$50 each. I am presently attempting to trace the origin from where they obtained
these weapons whichbrings up the following facts...and a question or two.
During World War 2 OS5 in England changed its name to Special Forces Head-
quarters in May 1944. To support its operations, four C-47's of the 856th
Squadron were placed under the direct control of Special Forces Headquarters and
flew landing sorties to twelve partisan held airfields in France and the 1101lEitirl
areas. The 856th squadron transported many of these pistols to the (desistance
via these airfields from July to late December 1944. These facts I have already
documented through other sources. OS5 had many packing stations in the various
parts of the world which made ready arms and equipment for airdrop and delivery.
My question is...would you have in your files ( which should relate to OPS opera
any information which shows that Special Forces Headquarters utilized 856th
squadron? Or possibly, any information mentioning Holmhy, England which was an
OSS packing station and their possible reference to the "Liberator" pistol?
Also, I was told by other sources that 055 did not operate in the Philippine
Islands during World War 2. Could you possibly verify this for me also.
Lastly, I review of the book, "Rearming the French" by former 056 Lieutenant
Marcel Vigneras fails to show that this pistol was given to the French Re:iistanc.
His book does have a list of equipment which was packed by 0SS and delivered to
the Resistance from January to October 1944 and again the "Liberator" pistol was
not mentioned. Any information on this matter which you are allowed to release
would be greatly appreciated. And thanks again for the prior a sistance.
Approved For Release 2006/09/25 : CIA-RDP75B0038OR00020
Sinr.erely