Chapter 1 A DANGEROUS MISSION On a dark night in 1940s France a parachute jumper floated to the ground She quickly stripped off a green-and-tan jumpsuit She pulled a small shovel from its pockets and dug a hole in the ground with the shovel Then she buried the jumpsuit and the parachute to erase all traces of her jump 4
The jumper was a secret agent Britain sent thousands of agents into enemy territory during World War II The agents spied on enemy soldiers They destroyed equipment and vehicles And they sent important information back to headquarters Special gear helped them complete their missions Many spies were used during World War II 1939 1945 5
That’s a Fact In the James Bond books and movies a character named Q supplies superspy Bond with cool gear Q was based on the real-life inventor Charles Fraser-Smith He worked for a British spy agency during World War II He used everyday objects to hide useful tools Hairbrushes hid maps in their handles Fountain pens hid compasses The gadgets he invented were called Q gadgets English novelist Ian Fleming is best known for his character James Bond 6
The Importance of Spying Spies gather intelligence or secret information Countries use spies in wartime to learn what their enemies might be planning Secret agents also carry out sabotage missions to help their side defeat the enemy During peacetime spy agencies continue to gather information Their work keeps people safe Spies are always gathering information 7
