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Noor Inayat Khan

March 27, 2021 by Diane Greig

Noor Inayat Khan was a Special Operations Executive (SOE) agent in France during WW 2. Due to her fluency in French, unflappable character and exceptional talent with wireless transmitting she was the first woman wireless operator to be sent behind enemy lines in France.

Black and white photo from the 40's of   Noor Inayat Khan in uniform
Hon. Assistant Section Officer Noor Inayat Khan (code name Madeleine), George Cross, MiD, Croix de Guerre avec Etoile de Vermeil. Noor Inayat Khan served as a wireless operator with F Section, Special Operations Executive. via Wikipedia

Transmitting was one of the most dangerous espionage jobs as the Nazis would patrol the streets for signals. She was captured by the Gestapo in 1942 in Paris and tortured and executed by her captors in 1944. She never revealed any information, not even her name.

In 2020 the British installed the Blue Heritage Paque at Noor Inayat Khan’s home in the UK. She is the first woman of Indian origin to receive one for her war contributions and ultimate sacrifice.

Noor Inayat Khan was posthumously awarded the French Croix de Guerre (military medal) by France in 1946 and the UK’s George Cross (civilian medal) in 1949. Her story is featured in the movie, A Call to Spy.

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  1. martine boucard

    March 27, 2021 at 2:50 pm

    Bonjour
    De plus en plus intéressant. Merci
    J’apprend beaucoup de choses.

    Bon week end
    Martine Schmitz

    Reply

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