University of Wyoming
Cassady served with the French Flying Service as a pilot with the 28th Aero Pursuit Squadron during World War I. He returned to France in 1942 as a naval attache to the U.S. Embassy in Vichy, France, during World War II. However, Cassady reported to the Office of Strategic Services as an undercover agent whose job was to help the French Underground find escape routes for downed Allied pilots, which took him into occupied France on four occasions.
After the Nazis occupied Vichy in November 1942, Cassady was taken prisoner and held in a hotel on account of his diplomatic status. He was returned to the U.S. in February 1944 as part of a prisoner exchange and resumed his undercover work that same month in Algiers and later in Paris when France was liberated. Cassady worked as an investor before and after World War II.
Collection contains a history of the 28th Aero Squadron (1918); correspondence, mostly written by Cassady in 1942 while he was in Vichy, France, before Nazi occupation and sent to his wife Elizabeth (1942, 1945, 1959, 1974); photographs; newspaper clippings; and miscellaneous other materials. Some of the material is in French. Mostly photocopies.
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
There are no known other archival collections created by Thomas G. Cassady at the date of processing.
Finding aid available in repository.
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
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