Far Eastern Liaison Office
Encyclopedia
The Far Eastern Liaison Office (FELO) was a Second World War Propaganda and Field Intelligence unit set up under the orders of the Allied Land Commander, General Sir Thomas Blamey
, on 19 June 1942. FELO became one of four sections of the Allied Intelligence Bureau
(AIB) which was established on 6 July 1942 to control and co-ordinate the activities of various intelligence organisations that had been set up after the outbreak of war with Japan.
Far Eastern Liaison Office was a propaganda
organisation and was given a non-descriptive cover name to protect its real intelligence purpose. Its objectives were:
While some activity was common to both the Services Reconnaissance Department
and FELO the general line of demarcation was that SRD was responsible for sabotage and physical operations while FELO was responsible for propaganda and misdirection.
Specifically the objects of the activities of the FELO were:
In its initial stages FELO was under the control of AIB but in September 1942 operational control was transferred to the three Australian Chiefs-of-Staff and the Senior Officer, Netherlands Forces. It was agreed that FELO’s political activities would be controlled by the Minister for External Affairs through the Political Warfare Division of his Department.
The personnel of FELO were formed from the Australian Services, and the Netherlands East Indies Forces Intelligence Service
. The organisation, commanded by an executive with its headquarters located in Melbourne
with elements stationed in Brisbane
, consisted of eight operational sections:
Far from being deskbound professional influencers, FELO operatives performed some of the most hair-raising intelligence operations of the war. Personnel were heavily involved in field operations, often penetrating deep into Japanese-held territory in one or two man teams.
FELO was commanded by CDR J.C.R. Proud RANVR.
Due to the difficulty of deconfliction with other AIB operations, FELO undertook several operations with the Services Reconnaissance Department
towards the end of the war.
FELO Field Propaganda Unit Operations
Thomas Blamey
Field Marshal Sir Thomas Albert Blamey GBE, KCB, CMG, DSO, ED was an Australian general of the First and Second World Wars, and the only Australian to date to attain the rank of field marshal....
, on 19 June 1942. FELO became one of four sections of the Allied Intelligence Bureau
Allied Intelligence Bureau
The Allied Intelligence Bureau was an joint United States, Australian, Dutch and British intelligence and special operations agency during World War II. It was responsible for operating parties of spies and commandos behind Japanese lines in order to collect intelligence and conduct guerrilla...
(AIB) which was established on 6 July 1942 to control and co-ordinate the activities of various intelligence organisations that had been set up after the outbreak of war with Japan.
Far Eastern Liaison Office was a propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
organisation and was given a non-descriptive cover name to protect its real intelligence purpose. Its objectives were:
- Promoting disaffection, passive resistance and, where possible, active revolt, or guerrilla warfareGuerrilla warfareGuerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
in enemy occupied countries. - Hampering the enemy’s war effort by means of sabotage, propaganda and other subversive activities in enemy occupied countries.
- Combating enemy interests and activities by clandestine means.
- Misdirection of the enemy as to Allied military intentions.
While some activity was common to both the Services Reconnaissance Department
Services Reconnaissance Department
The Services Reconnaissance Department , also known as Inter-Allied Services Department , Special Operations Australia and Section A, Allied Intelligence Bureau was an Australian military intelligence and special reconnaissance unit, during World War II.Authorised by General Thomas Blamey in March...
and FELO the general line of demarcation was that SRD was responsible for sabotage and physical operations while FELO was responsible for propaganda and misdirection.
Specifically the objects of the activities of the FELO were:
- To lower the morale of the enemy forces by all possible means so that their fighting efficiency was impaired
- To mislead the enemy regarding Australia’s military intentions
- To influence subject populations
In its initial stages FELO was under the control of AIB but in September 1942 operational control was transferred to the three Australian Chiefs-of-Staff and the Senior Officer, Netherlands Forces. It was agreed that FELO’s political activities would be controlled by the Minister for External Affairs through the Political Warfare Division of his Department.
The personnel of FELO were formed from the Australian Services, and the Netherlands East Indies Forces Intelligence Service
Netherlands East Indies Forces Intelligence Service
Netherlands East Indies Forces Intelligence Service , was a Dutch World War II era intelligence and special operations unit operating mainly in the Japanese-occupied Netherlands East Indies ....
. The organisation, commanded by an executive with its headquarters located in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
with elements stationed in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, consisted of eight operational sections:
- North Western Area
- Radio
- Research and Information
- Leaflet
- Japanese
- Store Equipment Technical Research
- Philippines
- North Eastern Area
Far from being deskbound professional influencers, FELO operatives performed some of the most hair-raising intelligence operations of the war. Personnel were heavily involved in field operations, often penetrating deep into Japanese-held territory in one or two man teams.
FELO was commanded by CDR J.C.R. Proud RANVR.
Due to the difficulty of deconfliction with other AIB operations, FELO undertook several operations with the Services Reconnaissance Department
Services Reconnaissance Department
The Services Reconnaissance Department , also known as Inter-Allied Services Department , Special Operations Australia and Section A, Allied Intelligence Bureau was an Australian military intelligence and special reconnaissance unit, during World War II.Authorised by General Thomas Blamey in March...
towards the end of the war.
FELO Field Propaganda Unit Operations
- "O" Mission
- "J" Mission