SOME COOL OLD SCHOOL SPY GADGETS

Dragonfly Insectothopter

Developed by CIA's Office of Research and Development in the 1970s, this micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was the first flight of an insect-sized aerial vehicle (Insectothopter). It was an initiative to explore the concept of intelligence collection by miniaturized platforms. (Courtesy of the Central Intelligence Agency)

 

 

 

Rat 'Dead Drop"

This desiccated and hollowed-out rat corpse is designed to use as a "dead drop" -- a mailbox to pass messages between a CIA officer and a local agent without the two of them risking a face-to-face meeting. Dead drop items are typically either things no one would look at twice or so disgusting that people won't go near them. (Andrew Rothschild for Yahoo News)

 

 

 

 

Miniature spring-wound 35-mm film camera in a modified cigarette pack. The Tessina's small size and quiet operation provided more options for concealment than most commercially available models. (Courtesy of the Central Intelligence Agency)

 

 

'Silver Dollar' Hollow Container

This coin may appear to be an Eisenhower silver dollar, but it is really a concealment device. It was used to hide messages or film so they could be sent secretly. Because it looks like ordinary pocket change, it is almost undetectable. (Courtesy of the Central Intelligence Agency)

 

 

Courtesy of the Central Intelligence Agency        

Argo Producer Notes

To rescue six American diplomats who evaded capture during the seizure of the United States embassy in Tehran, Iran, on 4 November 1979, CIA technical specialists created a fake movie-production company in Hollywood and delivered disguises and documents that made possible the diplomatsâ escape from Iran in 1980. The team set up 'Studio Six Productions' and titled its new production 'Argo.' This document includes an Introduction, Story Treatment & Locations, and Visuals. (Courtesy of the Central Intelligence Agency)

 

 

                                                  

Courtesy of the Central Intelligence Agency

Letter Removal Device             

   Special devices were used in World War II to take letters from their envelopes without opening the seals. The pincer-like device was inserted into the unsealed gap at the top of an envelope flap. One could then wind the letter around the pincers and extract the letter from within. (Courtesy of the Central Intelligence Agency)

 

 

                                                      

 

Courtesy of the Central Intelligence Agency

Pigeon Camera

CIA's Office of Research and Development developed a camera small and light enough to be carried by a pigeon. It would be released, and on its return home the bird would fly over a target. Being a common species, its role as an intelligence collection platform was concealed in the activities of thousands of other birds. Pigeon imagery was taken within hundreds of feet of the target so it was much more detailed than other collection platforms. (Courtesy of the Central Intelligence Agency)

 

 

       

Courtesy of the Central Intelligence Agency

Radio Receiver Concealment

  A subminiature radio receiver is concealed in this modified pipe. The user hears the sound via 'bone conduction' from the jaw to the ear canal. (Courtesy of the Central Intelligence Agency)

 

 

Courtesy of the Central Intelligence Agency        

Robot Fish "Charlie"

 CIA's Office of Advanced Technologies and Programs developed the Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) fish to study aquatic robot technology. The UUV fish contains a pressure hull, ballast system, and communications system in the body and a propulsion system in the tail. It is controlled by a wireless line-of-sight radio handset. (Courtesy of the Central Intelligence Agency)