Revealing Cold War espionage technology: Dove spies, hidden cameras and other gadgets.
In an interview with Wired, Jonah Mendez, the former head of espionage technology at the CIA, spoke about some of the most critical photographic tools used for Cold War espionage. Some of the gadgets he describes sound like myths, but they were actually very useful in intelligence gathering businesses.
During the duration During the Cold War, surveillance of Moscow was among the most difficult missions faced by CIA agents. The agency found many different methods to obtain critical information, many of these methods involved photography. One such tool was the pigeon camera, which was a small, lightweight camera that was attached to the pigeons by a strap. The camera was programmed to take pictures at set intervals as the pigeons flew around their targets.
Because pigeons could be trained to return to their original locations, spy pigeons were particularly useful for taking aerial photographs of targets and competed with or surpassed the quality of satellite imagery at the time.
However, conspiracy theorists have been inspired by this true story and claim that in modern times governments have defiled robotic pigeons that record our movements !!
Mendez in the video also describes a number of different hidden cameras, such as one hidden on the body of a pen, Tropel Pen Camera. He says this particularly impressive piece of technology was handmade and took pictures through a set of stacked lenses that were on the body of the pen.
According to Mendez, photography as a means of espionage was a valuable source for the CIA during the Cold War. They could be hidden in incredible places, such as ties, books, etc.
If you find yourself in New York and you like these period gadgets then visit it espionage museum.
