Spy Girl in a Cynical World: Elizabeth McIntosh's Story
By Gracie Richburg
One fortune teller, one Glamour magazine writer, and one of the most valuable myth-spreading spies in WWII history. If one were to tell you that these seemingly unrelated personas were actually attributed to just one woman, would you believe it? While you could certainly toy with the idea for a moment, it is safe to assume the majority of us are skeptics. After all, what do lions, tigers, and bears have in common? Animal analogies aside, and to a skeptic’s surprise, one such woman did exist and she went by the name of Betty. Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Peet McIntosh was many things, and being one of our country’s most renowned WWII spies just happened to be one of them. In our fourth edition of The Butterfly Bulletin, join us as we rewind the clock to 1915 and share the story of WWII’s “Spy Girl.”
Credit: CIA
Aloha, OSS
Elizabeth Sebree Peet was born on March 1, 1915 in Washington, DC. Affectionately known by her nickname 'Betty,' Betty McIntosh was nothing short of extraordinary. Born as the daughter of two reporters, journalism ran through her blood from early on. Betty moved shortly thereafter to Honolulu, Hawaii where she would spend the entirety of her childhood. Growing up in such a dynamic community, Betty developed an appreciation for culture and a piquing interest in international affairs. During her time in Hawaii, Betty studied Japanese and soon became proficient at it. Betty’s profound knowledge and aptitude for greatness would then lead her to the University of Washington where she studied journalism.
At the age of 20, Betty graduated with her degree and landed her first job as a correspondent for the E. W. Scripps Company in 1935. Betty headed back to Hawaii upon graduation and began her exciting new career. Unknown to her at the time, this simple decision would play an integral role in the course of her life. For in 1941 as the attack on Pearl Harbor unfolded, Betty was nearby and covered the developing atrocity. After the start of the war, the canon event in Betty’s life would lead her back to DC, where she followed the happenings of Eleanor Roosevelt and the government. In January 1943, Betty’s fluent Japanese proved invaluable as she landed a job at the newly formed Office of Strategic Services (OSS). It was here that the course of Betty’s life began to shift dramatically.
Credit: CIA
Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall
In January 1943, Betty’s incredible career in espionage became a reality. Her exceptional intelligence, coupled with her sharp wit, proved invaluable and eventually landed her at OSS. As if it were her destiny all along, Betty was unexpectedly connected to a top serving official under General William “Wild Bill” Donovan, the chief of OSS at the time. During her interview for the position, Betty adamantly expressed only one non-negotiable for her to accept the position: the opportunity to travel overseas. Betty yearned to see and experience the world around her. Without question, her wish was granted.
Betty’s first assignment in India involved intervening in postcard communication from troops stationed from Japan to India. Betty was amongst the few women working in Morale Operations, where she would craft deceptive reports, documents, and postcards in order to weaken Japanese morale. As the war continued, Betty played an essential role in developing propaganda leaflets. One of her tasks involved creating a script for a well-known Chinese fortune teller to broadcast on the radio, intending to unsettle both Chinese and Japanese listeners. Her script hinted at an impending catastrophe in Japan, stating that “something awful” would soon happen to a particular area. Though the message was intentionally vague, the impact was heightened. Unexpectedly, on the same day, the US dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, an event unbeknownst to Betty and her team at the time they crafted the script.
Once WWII was over, Betty came back to the United States with a newfound sense of purpose and passion. Upon the disbandment of OSS, Betty’s journey shifted to New York City, where she pursued a job writing for Glamour magazine in New York City—a woman who could do it all! However, given her experience with secret spy missions, Betty found the job underwhelming. She later returned to intelligence work and was one of few women from OSS to join the newly formed CIA. On one of her subsequent missions to Asia, Betty even met her beloved fighter pilot husband, Fred McIntosh. The two married in 1962 and settled down in their farmhouse outside of Leesburg, Virginia.
Credit: CIA
Sisterhood Never Dies
Betty released her memoir Undercover Girl in 1947. She also authored Sisterhood of Spies: The Women of the OSS which was first published in 1998. In recognition of her remarkable achievements, Betty was honored as one of the "Virginia Women in History" by the Library of Virginia in 2012. Betty had an unwavering passion, which inspired many women who followed in her footsteps. Betty was strong, capable, and knew her worth. She lived a life of honor and truly embodied the spirit of our country. Betty passed away in June 2015 at the incredible age of 100, leaving an unforgettable legacy behind her.
Credit: CIA
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References
Bernstein, Adam. “Elizabeth McIntosh, Spy Whose Lies Helped Win a War, Dies at 100.” The Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2023, www.washingtonpost.com/national/elizabeth-mcintosh-spy-whose-lies-helped-win-a-war-dies-at-100/2015/06/08/6ed48900-0dfd-11e5-adec-e82f8395c032_story.html.
“Elizabeth Peet ‘Betty’ McIntosh · Virginia Changemakers.” Omeka RSS, edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/items/show/178. Accessed 25 June 2023.
Sacquety, Troy J. “Setting the ‘Rising Sun’ The WWII Service of Psywarrior Elizabeth McIntosh.” Setting the “Rising Sun,” 2016, arsof-history.org/articles/v12n1_elizabeth_mcintosh_page_1.html.
“‘Spy Girl’ Betty McIntosh.” Central Intelligence Agency, 30 Mar. 2020, www.cia.gov/stories/story/spy-girl-betty-mcintosh/.
