- Phyliss Latour
Infobox Military Person
name=Phyliss Latour
caption=
born=birth date|1921|4|8
died=
placeofbirth=Durban ,South Africa
placeofdeath=
nickname=Genevieve
allegiance=United Kingdom ,France
branch=WAAF,Special Operations Executive ,French Resistance
serviceyears=1941-1944
rank=Field agent and guerrilla commander
unit=
commands=Scientist
battles=
awards=MBE ,Croix de Guerre
relations
laterwork=Phyliss "Pippa" Latour
MBE , was a heroine of theSpecial Operations Executive during the Second World War.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.
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 HonorarySection 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 organiserClaude de Baissac and his sisterLisé de Baissac (the courier). [Squadron Leader Beryl E. Escott, "Mission Improbable: A salute to the RAF women of SOE in wartime France", London, Patrick Stevens Limited, 1991.]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.
Post War Life
After the War, Phyliss married an engineer by the name of Boyle and went to live in
East Africa . [Liane Jones, "A Quiet Courage: Women Agents in the French Resistance", London, Transworld Publishers Ltd, 1990. ISBN 0-593-01663-7]Notes
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
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