Author: Pinto, Oreste
Alternate names: Oreste Pinto
Born: 1889
Died: 1961
Bio: Oreste Pinto's career in intelligence began when he was recruited by the Deuxieme Bureau in 1913 - although he is most widely known as a Dutch counter-intelligence officer, debriefing Dutch Resistance fighters after liberation.  His work with MI5 interrogating refugees to England during the Second World War resulted in the capture of eight spies.

In 1952 he published two books, 'Spy-catcher' and 'Friend or Foe?' which led to the 1959-1961 BBC program Spycatcher to the 1962 Dutch program 'De Fuik' in which he was portrayed by Frits Butzelaar.

When Dwight Eisenhower was head of SHAEF, he described Lt Col Pinto as "the greatest living authority on security".

Oreste Pinto died in 1961.  All rights to his memoirs are currently owned by "Blue Dog - Red Earth Pty Ltd"