Phyliss Latour
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| Phyliss Latour | |
|---|---|
| Born April 8, 1921 | |
| Nickname | Genevieve |
| Place of birth | Durban, South Africa |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom, France |
| Service/branch | WAAF, Special Operations Executive, French Resistance |
| Years of service | 1941-1944 |
| Rank | Field agent and guerrilla commander |
| Commands held | Scientist |
| Awards | MBE, Croix de Guerre |
Phyliss "Pippa" Latour MBE, was a heroine of the Special Operations Executive during the Second World War.
Contents |
[edit] Early Life
Her father, Philippe, was French and married to Louise, a British citizen living in South Africa. Phyliss was born in Durban in South Africa in 1921.
[edit] WAAF & Special Operations Executive
Phliss moved from South Africa to England and joined the WAAF in November 1941 (Service Number 718483) as an Flight Mechanic for airframes. Recruited by the SOE, officially joining on November 1, 1943 and was commissioned as an Honorary Section Officer.
She parachuted into Orne, Normandy on May 1, 1944 to operate as part of the Scientist circuit, using the codename Genevieve to work as a wireless operator with the organiser Claude de Baissac and his sister Lisé de Baissac (the courier).[1]
Phyliss worked successfully and largely avaiding detection of the Germans, she sent over 135 messages to London. Remained in France until the liberation in August 1944.
[edit] Post War Life
After the War, Phyliss married an engineer by the name of Boyle and went to live in East Africa.[2]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Squadron Leader Beryl E. Escott, Mission Improbable: A salute to the RAF women of SOE in wartime France, London, Patrick Stevens Limited, 1991.
- ^ Liane Jones, A Quiet Courage: Women Agents in the French Resistance, London, Transworld Publishers Ltd, 1990. ISBN 0-593-01663-7
[edit] References
- Squadron Leader Beryl E. Escott, Mission Improbable: A salute to the RAF women of SOE in wartime France, London, Patrick Stevens Limited, 1991. ISBN 1-85260-289-9
- Liane Jones, A Quiet Courage: Women Agents in the French Resistance, London, Transworld Publishers Ltd, 1990. ISBN 0-593-01663-7
