Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Operation Fleur-De-Lys began in the grubby undistinguished house in London, which was the headquarters of the OSS, the Offices of Strategic Services, otherwise known in various parts of the world as the American underground agency. Two Lieutenants, Duke and Hill are listening to an OSS Major as he briefs them on the operation. The Major says "Gentlemen, Operation Fleur-De-Lys is planned to assist the advance of our forces once they've secured a beach head in Normandy". Duke asks "Is that where we're going in, Major?" He says "That is one of the possibilities, Lieutenant. You will jump over Grandmont in northern France" The Major displays a map and says "Here. You have to set up roadblocks on these three state highways. Here, here, and here". Hill asks "Is there an underground contact near Grandmont?" Major says "Yes, Alcine Duton. He's leader of the local marquis. He's expecting you. In addition, you're to block these railroad lines entering and leaving Grandmont. These operations are to coincide with the advance of our ground forces". Duke says "If they land in Normandy". Major says "Yes, if they land in Normandy. You are in plane tonight at 2100 hours and will drop over your objective at, I should think, approximately 2230 hours. Any questions?" Hill says "No, I don't think so, sir". Duke says "Well, yes, sir, I have a question". Major says "Yes, lieutenant?" Duke asks "How many of us are going on this mission?" Major says "Just the two of you". After the meeting, Duke says to himself "All we had to do was organize an underground army, disrupt the supply lines of a half a dozen Nazi divisions, and give support to the entire Allied invasion. Just the two of us. But that's the way the OSS worked. And nobody ordered Hill and me into it. We'd volunteered".