Capt. Frank Ferrell, USMC – OSS Collection Of Documents, Photos & Maps – SOLD

Description

Collection of Documents, Maps, Photographs, Etc.

For Captain Frank Ferrell, USMC

 

50 plus items relating to the service of Captain Frank Ferrell, USMC, a combat veteran, sent to China, while working for the Office of Strategic Services.

Frank Ferrell was a reporter and editor for the New York World-Telegram newspaper when he was approached by the U.S. Naval Intelligence Service, to observe and listen in on conversations in bars and restaurants on East Street, New York City, an area that was largely a German neighborhood.  The purpose was to gather information about the German Bund, and their activities, while working under the guise as just a reporter on the beat for local scoops.

Ferrell’s work with Naval Intelligence, which ultimately broke up the Bund’s subversive work in the City, would soon lead to William “Wild Bill” Donovan, head of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services), in assisting his desire to enlist, and finally Ferrell’s getting into the Marines, after initial rejection by the Navy for high blood pressure issues.

 

That help by Donovan, upon completion of his six weeks of training at Quantico, Va., Ferrell was assigned to the 1^st Battalion, 7^th Marines, 1^st Marine Division, which had been ordered to the first ground action in the Pacific at Guadalcanal.  Attached to the intelligence section, Ferrell led small reconnaissance units into the jungle as a patrol leader, working under the most arduous and dangerous conditions to bring essential intelligence on vital Japanese intelligence and movements.  After Guadalcanal, Ferrell saw two more actions at Cape Gloucester, and Peleliu, and would later be awarded the Silver Star Medal for Conspicuous Gallantry.  His commanding officer, Lt. General Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, called then Captain Frank Ferrell, “the finest young Marine officer I ever knew.”

William Donovan’s help with obtaining a commission in the armed service at the beginning of the war, came with a “quid pro quo,”  in that Donovan would use in combat experience as well as his prior career as a reporter, and investigator to now train with the OSS for a mission that entailed jumping into Japanese held China, just at the end of the war in the Pacific, to assist in surrender proceedings, rescue Allied POWs, and bringing Japanese war criminals to trial.

Rounding up war criminals was an exhaustive task, those people known to have taken part in such crimes, suffering assassination attempts, and more, to bring the assignment to fruition. On the last day before leaving Canton, the team noted a large radio antenna over a house, and upon entering, soon learned that much evidence they uncovered pointed to a major German Spy ring operation in China.

What followed the discovery, would be a two-year investigation, leading to the conviction of 21 Germans, that were part of a secret intelligence agency of the German High Command, led by a master spy Ludwig Ehrhardt. During the two-year period, many ex-Japanese soldiers, and other citizens, were investigated, with a huge number of affidavits taken to determine involvement of the spies, and their associates.

Much more of Ferrell’s life before WWII, and after can he found on the internet. His professional life was quite full, and far worth the time for a look-see.

The lot contains:

• Type period copy of Ferrell’s Silver Star Certificate for action on Peleliu, for the period of 15 September to 6 October 1944.
• 4 orders from Asst. Sec of War- Strategic Services Unit, China, transfer orders TDY dated 9 Sept. 1946; HQ External Survey Detachment 44. U.S. Navy, Shanghai, China, dated 5 December, 1946, TDY to Nanking;    Another same unit, dated 10 Dec. 1946 for TDY to Nanking:    HQ Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, from Commanding General, orders for special duty at Space Control, Naval Transit Terminal, Naval Air Facility, Honolulu, Hawaii, dated 7 March, 1947.  Most of these orders originated from OSS- CIA organizations, using cover names.
• Period chart of chain of command of offices in China connected with the German Embassy in China. Hitler on down.
• Period copy of diagram of German Intelligence sources in Peiping, those that were available to Japanese army in North China.
• “A Certified True Copy – ACT OF MILITARY SURRENDER.” A 3 page typed copy of the surrender articles, with typed signatures of Arthur Tedder, on behalf of the Supreme Command Allied Expeditionary Force,      De Lattre- Tassigny, General Commanding In Chief First French Army,    General Zhukov, On behalf of the Supreme High Command of the Red Army,    and Carl Spaatz, General, Commanding United States Strategic Air Forces.   Signed by Captain Ferrell to the above being a certified true copy.
• 25 copies of True Statements by Germans, and Japanese, who worked for or had knowledge of the activities of the German officials. Some of the Japanese were military officers working as interpreters, liaisons with the German Consulate, etc. People such as a German Dr. working at a military prison, German embassy staff, German and Japanese journalists, Businessmen and brokers, secretaries, even less grade soldiers assigned to guard a post that had overheard or saw clandestine activities, and many others. Nearly all of these are signed by Ferrell, some of these same document are signed by other American staff. About a dozen are also signed by those giving evidence, both Japanese and German.  Many of these are two or more pages, with details on Japanese and Germans being investigated.
• Photographs include; snap shots of German embassy gatherings with a photo postcard of Field Marshal von Ribbentrop & German officials (most are taken in China), two of German/Chinese women used by the Germans as spies to collection intelligence (Bianca Tam- blonde, was later executed),    one of a Japanese military staff,   one of Ferrell and 3 other American standing in front of the American Embassy,    8×10 glossy of Ferrell as civilian before a WABC microphone, post war.
• Various news clipping about Ferrell, and spy activities, some from the Shanghai Evening Post, Walter Winchell article dated 6/17/46, The China Weekly Review.  All of this cover wartime and after up to the early 1950’s. A good number in folder.
• There is other miscellaneous document, other paper items (OSS 1979 Dinner invitation and cover letter,
• Lot of wartime maps; Map of Okinawa – January 1945 by USAAF engineers,   2 maps prepared by the Strategic Services Unit of Manchurian, Railroads, Roads,    1 of Manchuria on availability of water made by the State Dept. Div of Map Intelligence.   1 map of China made by OSS.

Condition of the material is in fine condition. One of the type orders is separated at one fold.

The photos used within this text, are photos from the larger collection mentioned below.

 

This collection is a much smaller unit of duplicate material, that I separated from a much larger grouping far more comprehensive, with more photographs of Ferrell, and other American officers,  OSS letterhead documents, far more affidavits, and other document, maps, and a scrap book ( a massive ring binder) with photos, clippings, from his military and civilian careers, Ferrell photographed with Hollywood starlets, and more.  Please contact us if you have an interest in this scarce historical material.