George Musulin
Encyclopedia
George "Guv" S. Musulin (April 9, 1914 – February 1987) was an officer of the Office of Strategic Services
(OSS) and naval intelligence services, and in 1950 became a CIA agent.
George Musulin was born in a Serbian family in New York City
and grew up in Georgetown, Pennsylvania
. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh
, where he played with the university football team. After college he played professional American football in St. Louis and Chicago.
During the Second World War, in mid-October 1943, OSS Captain George Musulin, as a member of the OSS U.S. military mission, parachuted into Yugoslavia to the headquarters of General Draža Mihailović
. On 29 May 1944, captain Musulin with the help of Chetniks successfully evacuated together with the British and American mission, and 40 rescued Allied airmen, to Bari
, leaving General Mihailović without support. George Musulin was placed in Bari
, where he proposed yet another rescue of American airmen shot down over Yugoslavia. Captain Musulin again parachuted over Chetnik territory, near the village of Pranjani
, where there were several hundred American airmen rescued by Chetnik forces and hidden from the Germans. Musulin successfully commanded the airlift Operation Halyard
, the rescue from the air of about 447 U.S. airmen from Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia, of 10 to 29 August 1944. This operation was successful due to cooperation with General Draža Mihailović. Musulin were ordered not to give the Chetniks political promises and strict adherence to orders. On the Allies in the Mediterranean the main authority was the British command. However, Musulin is violated the order because he allowed to board in the plane members of the political mission of General Mihailovic. British from SOE
is have complained to Musulin's superiors in OSS, who decided to expel from the service. The British believed that Musulin became Pro-Chetniks person. Musulin on late 1944 was transferred to the Far East
, in the naval intelligence service, which will see the end of the war. After war, in the UK to arrive at a large spy affair, known as "Cambridge Five
". These British agents during the war worked for the Soviet NKVD
and the main task was to sabotage the resistance movement of General Draža Mihailovic. The main agent in this network in the eastern Mediterranean (Cairo
) for sabotage and disinformation against General Draža Mihailovic was James Klugmann
. And the CIA has conducted an investigation, which concluded that George Musulin during the war was on the right path and that he was the victim of British agents who worked for the communists. After this Musulin is proposed to join the CIA. For his efforts, Musulin was awarded the Legion of Merit
.
Musulin enlisted in the Office of Naval Intelligence and joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1950, where he remained until he retired in 1974. During his intelligence career, Musulin belonged to a hard current of hawks in the CIA. Musulin was not an office clerk, but an operational agent. He was part of a team that was responsible for recruiting and training Cuban exiles in the struggle against the regime of Fidel Castro
. He was totally disappointed with the failure of the operation Bay of Pigs
and the loss of human life. Musulin's name was mentioned during the investigation of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Musulin died of complications of diabetes at the age of 72.
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
(OSS) and naval intelligence services, and in 1950 became a CIA agent.
George Musulin was born in a Serbian family in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and grew up in Georgetown, Pennsylvania
Georgetown, Pennsylvania
This article is about Georgetown, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. See also: Georgetown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.Georgetown is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, along the Ohio River. The population was 182 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1793 by Benoni Dawson...
. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, where he played with the university football team. After college he played professional American football in St. Louis and Chicago.
During the Second World War, in mid-October 1943, OSS Captain George Musulin, as a member of the OSS U.S. military mission, parachuted into Yugoslavia to the headquarters of General Draža Mihailović
Draža Mihailovic
Dragoljub "Draža" Mihailović was a Yugoslav Serbian general during World War II...
. On 29 May 1944, captain Musulin with the help of Chetniks successfully evacuated together with the British and American mission, and 40 rescued Allied airmen, to Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
, leaving General Mihailović without support. George Musulin was placed in Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
, where he proposed yet another rescue of American airmen shot down over Yugoslavia. Captain Musulin again parachuted over Chetnik territory, near the village of Pranjani
Pranjani
Pranjani is a village in the municipality of Gornji Milanovac, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of people.In 1944 Pranjani was the site of Operation Halyard.-References:...
, where there were several hundred American airmen rescued by Chetnik forces and hidden from the Germans. Musulin successfully commanded the airlift Operation Halyard
Operation Halyard
Operation Halyard, also known as the Halyard Mission, was the largest Allied airlift operation behind enemy lines during World War II. A total of 512 allied airmen who had been downed over Nazi-occupied Serbia were rescued by Serbian Chetniks, led by General Draža Mihailović...
, the rescue from the air of about 447 U.S. airmen from Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia, of 10 to 29 August 1944. This operation was successful due to cooperation with General Draža Mihailović. Musulin were ordered not to give the Chetniks political promises and strict adherence to orders. On the Allies in the Mediterranean the main authority was the British command. However, Musulin is violated the order because he allowed to board in the plane members of the political mission of General Mihailovic. British from SOE
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
is have complained to Musulin's superiors in OSS, who decided to expel from the service. The British believed that Musulin became Pro-Chetniks person. Musulin on late 1944 was transferred to the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
, in the naval intelligence service, which will see the end of the war. After war, in the UK to arrive at a large spy affair, known as "Cambridge Five
Cambridge Five
The Cambridge Five was a ring of spies, recruited in part by Russian talent spotter Arnold Deutsch in the United Kingdom, who passed information to the Soviet Union during World War II and at least into the early 1950s...
". These British agents during the war worked for the Soviet NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
and the main task was to sabotage the resistance movement of General Draža Mihailovic. The main agent in this network in the eastern Mediterranean (Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
) for sabotage and disinformation against General Draža Mihailovic was James Klugmann
James Klugmann
Norman John Klugmann , generally known as James Klugmann, was a leading British Communist writer who became the official historian of the Communist Party of Great Britain-Background and Early Career:...
. And the CIA has conducted an investigation, which concluded that George Musulin during the war was on the right path and that he was the victim of British agents who worked for the communists. After this Musulin is proposed to join the CIA. For his efforts, Musulin was awarded the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
.
Musulin enlisted in the Office of Naval Intelligence and joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1950, where he remained until he retired in 1974. During his intelligence career, Musulin belonged to a hard current of hawks in the CIA. Musulin was not an office clerk, but an operational agent. He was part of a team that was responsible for recruiting and training Cuban exiles in the struggle against the regime of Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
. He was totally disappointed with the failure of the operation Bay of Pigs
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an unsuccessful action by a CIA-trained force of Cuban exiles to invade southern Cuba, with support and encouragement from the US government, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. The invasion was launched in April 1961, less than three months...
and the loss of human life. Musulin's name was mentioned during the investigation of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Musulin died of complications of diabetes at the age of 72.