William T. Carlson
William T. Carlson, May 1944, Stockholm
William T. “Bill” Carlson was born in Portland, Connecticut. Both his parents were born in Sweden, then were naturalized in the 1890′s. Bill was a proficient organist and sang in his college Glee Club. He enjoyed the outdoors – tennis, swimming, hunting, and fishing. After Bill graduated from Wesleyan University, he went to work for Elizabeth Arden. He lived in Berlin for two years (1930-1932) and in London, England for eight years (1932-1940.) He traveled all over the continent of Europe on company business.
Bill left Elizabeth Arden to join the army in July of 1941.
At the beginning of 1943, Calvin B. Hoover of the OSS, requested that 2nd Lt. William T. Carlson be transferred to work for his organization in the SI (secret intelligence) section. Hoover noted that because Carlson had lived in Northern and Central Europe for some 15 years, he was excellently qualified for this work.
Originally, the War Department turned down the request because Carlson’s commanding officer didn’t want to release him. By the end of March, however Carlson was transferred to a new assignment (still counter-intelligence) in Maryland, with a new commanding officer, and Hoover issued a new and stronger plea. On April 30th the request was approved, and Carlson was assigned to OSS Washington DC.
In July 1943 he arrived in Europe at OSS London, where he was in charge of the German Desk of SI. By January of 1944, Carlson was working under James R. Murphy, the head of X-2 (counterintelligence) and was also the head of the Scandinavian Section.
X-2 Stockholm was established in April of 1944 by Carlson. He arrived there under diplomatic cover … to work at the American Legation as commercial attaché.
Carlson urgently requested the transfer of Miss Hedvig Johnson from OSS London to Stockholm, and by July of 1944 she was to join his staff there. Like Carlson, her familiarity with the Swedish language and customs would be invaluable to their operation.
NOTE: I am feverishly searching for clues about Bill Carlson and his work in London and in Sweden. I would appreciate any comments or additions to the research I’ve done. I would love to make contact with his family.
In 2011 I will publish an English version of my Ph.D. thesis. Its title will be “Second to None – US Intelligence activities in Northern Europe 1943-1946″ and will reveal a lot of information about how the OSS and later on the SSU created good contacts and perfect liaisons in Western Europe, ready for the CIA to take over after 1947.
WT Carlson is just one among many US operatives who have an interesting story from their stay in Stockholm.
I can recommend you to contact Norwegian scholar Tore Pryser who also have published a book on the OSS in Scandinavia – unfortunately in Norwegian.
But… my book will be in English
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
I eagerly await the publication of your book, Peer! Any information you have on Bill Carlson will be greatly appreciated. And I will also contact Tore Pryser. THANKS, Pat