Ian Fleming's real first career....

[Peter Lemkin]

On "deals and pressures":

I think that by the end of WWII Britain was so thoroughly broke that the US kept us afloat - and in exchange we loosened our trouser belts and bent over for Queen and country. Since then, it's been all knees to the floor for ever afterwards.

What for me is really quite interesting though, is that the Brits taught the US about espionage and black skills and shared their secrets. This was for reasons of survival. But that knowledge ultimately led to todays US intelligence community.

I knew about this unit but what I didn't know is that a lot of its operations still remain classified. Interesting about 30AU on Kammler, Pete.

Yes, many [most, in fact!] of the operations of 30AU are still classified, and those remaining living members of 30AU are still not allowed to say what they did! If one thinks the USA is bad about secrecy, the UK outdoes the US by a lightyear. Fleming himself has not spoken about his missions or those he obviously knew of. Even the size of 30AU is still kept a secret, but it was not very large, compared to military units of the War.

Yes, Dave you are correct that the British really developed the modern arts [sic!] of espionage and counterespionage (and related matters) - and taught the Americans. Thanks a lot chaps, we really needed that!

The 30AU member who spoke most about Kammler is now dead, or I'd try to interview him. I'd love to view the documents on 30AU, but they are NOT available for review by any researcher. There is a very very limited 'official history' of the unit - totally sanitized. I think a good number of the operations are kept secret still to not embarrass the Americans, who mostly got to 'write the history' of the War - as some of that would have to be re-written in ways that would be embarrassing or not in the interest of 'national security interests'.