NARA Collection hh-smith — Collection hh-smith

Mrs. Smith recounts her efforts to assist her husband, Colonel Truman Smith, in his intelligence gathering activities during his tour (1936-38) as America's Military Attache in pre-war Nazi Germany. Mrs. Smith's richly detailed and very knowledgeable account includes brushes with the Gestapo and details concerning Charles A. Lindbergh's intelligence gathering trips to Germany in 1936-38. Because Goering could not resist showing off the new Lufwaffe, Lindbergh was allowed to tour several aircraft factories, visit Luftwaffe units, and was even allowed to fly several of the newest aircraft including the legendary ME-109 fighter. This was one of the major intelligence coups of World War II. Also includes personal glimpses of the Lindberghs by someone who came to know them well.

This detailed report (158 pages) was prepared at the request of Army Intelligence after WWII by Col. Truman Smith, American Military Attache to Germany in 1935-38. Smith was asked to preserve an account of one of the greatest intelligence coups of the pre-war period, namely Charles A. Lindbergh's series of inspection trips to Germany in 1936-38. Because the Germans could not resist showing off their new air force to an aviation celebrity, Lindbergh was allowed to visit secret aircraft plants and Luftwaffe bases. He was also allowed to fly several of the newest planes including the JU-88 bomber and the ME 109 and 110 fighters. Lindbergh's mission not only alerted the allies to the growing threat of German airpower, but provided valuable information as to the location of aircraft bases and factories which the Allies used to plan bombing missions in WWII.