Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination 
Records Collection Act of 1992 
(44 USC 2107 Note) 
NW 53295 6/15/17
104-10182-10059 ’ _ IG 70-6959 . MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD SUBJECT: WIROGUE/1 Mission to Kinshasa, December 1960 On 13 March 1975 a search of available documents was : made to determine the reason for the comment in paragraph 2 of a 17. December 1960 cable from Leopoldville indicating - that WIROGUE/1 had attempted to recruit a European to be a ~ member of "an execution squad." The research did not clarify this matter to any great extent, although some assumptions can be made on the basis of circumstantial evidence. WIROGUE/1 was an ethnic Georgian recruited and trained for the old REDSOOK@ program. Although born in the Soviet Union, he moved to Western Europe when two years old. He fought in the French Foreign Legion, and as of 1960 was essentially stateless. Involved peripherally with the French Resistance, he was sentenced to death by the Germans but liberated by the U.S. Army in 1945 and returned to Paris. By 1950 he had managed to rob a Paris bank of a sizeable sum of money, receive a prison sentence and be released five years later for good behavior. He was brought to the United States originally for use as one of two agents for Project AESENTINEL, He spoke native French and fluent Georgian, German and English. By 1960 the Agency was involved in a reasonably major effort to- resettle WIROGUE/1, possibly in Mexico, for the mission for which he had been brought to the United States had been canceled. WIROGUE/1's file indicates that as of 30 August steps were being taken to resettle him in Mexico. However, on 19 September 1960 two members of Africa Division met with him to discuss "an operational assignment in Africa Division.” In connection with this assignment, WIROGUE/T was to be trained in demolition% small arms and medical immunization. Plans to resettle him in Mexico were can- celed. He was provided a new pseudonym and immunization shots. In October 1960 a cable to Leopoldville stated that E2 IMPDET CL BY 018307
104-10182-10059 » # e WIROGUE/1 was being prepared fer deep cover assignment to arrive Leopoldville late November. Headquarters noted tat intent to use him as utility agent in order to“(a) organize and conduct a surveillance team; (b) intercept packages; (c) blow up bridges; and (d)_ execute other assignments requiring positive action. 4lfis utilization is not to be restricted to Leopoldville. Indeed, he may be subject to call by other African stations although it is expected for him to be resident in Leopoldville." In this cable WIROGUE/1 was described correttly as an inventor, photographer, archi- .¢ tect; forger and former bank robber. He was judged to be i... >aingenuous, observant, shrewd, glib and one who relished intrigue and daring. He was assessed as able to “learn quickly and carry out any assignment without regard to danger." As he was in the United States black, the plan was for him to depart black, documented as an Austrian, to-surface in West Germany and from there to proceed on -his own to Leopoldville. In November 1960 "to prevent his identification with the U.S. Government or BKHERALD and to preclude any unexpected recovery of his past which would associate him with his pre-BKHERALD life", WIROGUE/1 under- went plastic surgery to change the shape of his nose. He . was provided a toupee for constant wear and documented as . . an Austrian who had never been to the United States. Cover for his presence in Leopoldville was to be as shopkeeper, possibly that of a photographer. A rather lengthy assess- ment of his character can be summed up by saying he was able to rationalize any action if he had strong case offi- cer direction. Training records for WIROGUE/1, subsequent to his engagement by the Africa Division, indicate training only in SW. WIROGUE/1 arrived in Leopoldville on 2 December 1960. His case officer gave him the following instructions: (a) to build cover-possibly by opening a photographic shop; and (b) to try to spot persons for a surveillance team, intel assets, particularly in Oriental province, and para-military assets. Almost immediately upon arrival he ran into QUWIND who told the station that WIROGUE/1 looked like an intel- ligence agent. In attempting to recruit QJWIN@ for his "execution squad", WIROGUE/1 exceeded his instructions to avoid making approaches without checking with Leopoldville station.
104-10182-10059 In January 1961 Leopoldville asked for authority to permit WIROGUE/1 to take flving lessons so that the station \ plane could be used for'clandestine missions (the plane was registered in YQCLAM/1's name). Station acknowledged dis- adyantage of crossing WIROGUE/1 and YQCLAN/1 operations’ (YQCLAM/1 was never involved in any assassination schemes). Headquarters approved flying lessons. By March 1961 WIROGUE/1 had obtained the position of adviser to the Congolese Air \ Force with the rank of Major and was almost immediately used for the purpose of.gathering intelligence on the Congolese Air Force. By April I961 the Congolese were attempting use himfobtain arms and instructors in Western Europe. By ; April 1961 WIROGUE/1 was teaching the Congolese to fly \ aircraft, although he himself had learned only several ‘months earlier and was reading navigation manuals at night. to stay ahead of his class. in July 1961 WIROGUE/1 departed Leopoldville because he had run into difficulty obtaining a residence permit. He was terminated in September 1961. i In a summary of his activity in August 1961, Leopoldville , Station said WIROGUE/1 knew very little about station activ- ities, . It is the writer's opinion that WIROGUE/1 was recruited for his Congo assignment because of his third country national background in order to establish a support mechanism in Leopoldville. At the time the Congo was in chaos, BKHERALD had few assets and there was some likelihood that the polit- : ical situation would degenerate quickly. The Station possibly also wanted to have a latent para-military capability and , WIRCGUE/1's background and previous training for the REDSODA@ program made him a suitable candidate. This is, of course, conjecture. Perhaps pertinent is an October 1964 assessment of WIRQGUE/1 who had been turned over to HARVARD for resettling in Germany. Resettling him had turned out to be an enormous problem. The October 1964 cable notes that WIROQGUE/1 had an intense desire for intelligence service and enjoyed the role of lower echelon action agent. Although he threatened . to so to work for the French I8S, it was not believed that he tHhoush he aywmesst would be accepted. The assessment indicated there was little flap potential with WIROGUE/1 since he knew little
104-10182-10059 » & ¢ ~ about the Agency. In particular, in the Congo he was aware only of the COS's contact sith WIZARD/3, “RIRCGUE/1 spent most of his time trving yo -elep contacts and was not directly involved in_any virticular operation.