Hilaire du Berrier
Hilaire du Berrier (1905 - October 12, 2002) was a pioneer American pilot, barnstormer, and spy.
Biography
He was born in 1905 in Flasher, North Dakota and worked as a commercial artist in Chicago, Illinois in 1925, before he joined a flying circus. He had an uncle who was appointed to a position in Paris, and joined him there. the chance to go along for three months. In France he took the name "Hilaire", instead of his birth name "Hal". In Paris, he learned that Haile Selassie was hiring mercenary pilots to fight against the Italian occupation. In 1936 du Berrier was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as a prisoner of war, but escaped. In 1936-1937 he joined the Spanish Civil War on the side of the Loyalists, but was arrested as a spy for the Fascists.[1][2]
He worked for OSS during World War II. He worked as a journalist in Vietnam, and wrote a strongly anti-communist article about the situation in Vietnam for publication in American Mercury in 1958.
He died on October 12, 2002 in Monaco[3]
References
- ^ Lucier, James (January 4, 1999). "Hilaire du Berrier: Spy From North Dakota". Find Articles. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
Hilaire du Berrier is a pioneer aviator, daredevil, adventurer, writer, monarchist and spy who has seen more of this century than most of the rest of us and experienced it more deeply. What is more, he still is at work, looking forward toward the millennium.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Hilaire du Berrier". Prairie Public (radio). Retrieved 2008-11-03.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Passing of a patriot: Hilaire du Berrier -- daredevil pilot, intelligence operative, and hard-hitting journalist -- was literally on the front lines of the freedom fight around the world". The New American. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
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