Allied Intelligence Bureau

Organisational History

In July 1942, General Douglas MacArthur’s General Headquarters (GHQ) establishes the Allied Intelligence Bureau (AIB) to enhance intelligence operations in the Southwest Pacific Area during World War II. The Allied Intelligence Bureau is formed by amalgamating several Australian intelligence groups into one cohesive unit, tasked with a dual mission: acquiring and reporting on enemy activities, and weakening enemy forces through sabotage and support for local resistance movements.

The Allied Intelligence Bureau employs a range of tactics, primarily relying on long-range patrols and isolated observation posts positioned deep behind Japanese lines, some several thousand kilometres from the front. This strategic placement allows the Allied Intelligence Bureau to gather critical information and engage in covert operations effectively.

Boasting a diverse workforce, the Allied Intelligence Bureau comprises over 3,000 personnel from various national and military backgrounds, including Australian, British, American, Dutch, and Asian members from 10 distinct military services. This diversity is mirrored in the bureau’s leadership and operational structure.

Colonel C.G. Roberts, an Australian, serves as the head of the Allied Intelligence Bureau, reflecting the predominant Australian presence in the bureau. Field agencies within the Allied Intelligence Bureau are led by Australian, British, and Dutch officers. Roberts’ two main deputies at the headquarters are Americans: Lieutenant Colonel Allison W. Ind and Major Bobb B. Glenn. Additionally, Roberts directly reports to American officers Lieutenant General Richard Sutherland, MacArthur’s chief of staff, and Major General Charles A. Willoughby, MacArthur’s intelligence chief, known as G-2.

Initially, the Allied Intelligence Bureau is structured along functional lines with distinct sections dedicated to subversion and sabotage, surveillance and coastwatching, and propaganda. However, this structure leads to challenges, including overlapping responsibilities and duplicated efforts. The leadership at General Headquarters (GHQ) and within the Allied Intelligence Bureau itself engages in intense debates about the bureau’s primary focus: whether it should prioritise intelligence gathering or subversive warfare.

Field leaders within the Allied Intelligence Bureau are inclined towards sabotage and special operations, often perceiving the Allied Intelligence Bureau headquarters merely as a logistical support center for their operations. Contrarily, key figures like Major General Charles A. Willoughby and Colonel C.G. Roberts, the head of the Allied Intelligence Bureau, emphasises the importance of intelligence collection to directly support military operations on the battlefield. They advocate for centralised control over operations to ensure that all activities aligned with broader military objectives in the theater. Throughout his tenure, Roberts has to assert his authority to manage and direct the various section chiefs under his command.

Despite these internal conflicts, by the end of 1942, the Allied Intelligence Bureau establishes a solid foundation for intelligence operations. The Dutch element of the Allied Intelligence Bureau sets up a radio network that becomes crucial for communication in remote areas. Simultaneously, the Americans develop a secure communications system to relay intelligence from guerrilla forces combating the Japanese in the Philippines.

One of the most critical components of the Allied Intelligence Bureau during this period are the Australian Coastwatchers. Initially formed as a network of observation posts along the coasts of New Guinea and the Solomon Islands before the war, the Coastwatchers prove highly effective in monitoring Japanese naval and air activities. They also begin deploying long-range patrols to track movements of the Japanese Army.

In an effort to enhance the Allied Intelligence Bureau’s efficiency, Willoughby and Roberts initiates a reorganisation based on geographic areas. They create subordinate regional sections for the Netherlands East Indies, Papua New Guinea, the adjoining islands, and the Philippines. This restructuring allows each section chief to have tactical control over both intelligence gathering and special operations within their assigned regions, streamlining the Allied Intelligence Bureau’s operations and improving its effectiveness in the Pacific theater.

To enhance coordination and efficiency, both Colonel C.G. Roberts and his successor, Brigadier K.A. Wills, implements strategic changes within the Allied Intelligence Bureau. They move the advanced Allied Intelligence Bureau headquarters closer to General Douglas MacArthur’s General Headquarters for streamlined operational planning. Proposed projects and operations are channeled through Major General Charles A. Willoughby and Lieutenant General Richard Sutherland for approval. The Allied Intelligence Bureau also acquire long-range transport aircraft and a significant fleet of coastal shipping, bolstering its capability to support operations across vast distances in the South West Pacific Area.

In 1943, the structure of the Allied Intelligence Bureau (AIB) was as follows:

1. Section A: Initially the Inter-Allied Services Department (ISD), it was soon replaced by Special Operations Australia (SOA), which was responsible for gathering information about the enemy and carrying out sabotage operations. SOA was later renamed Services Reconnaissance Department (SRD) as a cover name.
2. Section B: Known as Secret Intelligence Australia (SIA), this functioned effectively as an Australian branch of the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), focusing on covert intelligence operations.
3. Section C: The Combined Field Intelligence Service, which was built upon the existing coastwatcher organisation. This section expanded to include the Philippines Regional Section (PRS) and NEFIS III (Netherlands Foreign Intelligence Service), broadening its intelligence-gathering capabilities across multiple regions.
4. Section D: Dedicated to Psychological Warfare, this section comprised two main organisations: the Australian Far Eastern Liaison Office (FELO) and the US Psychological Warfare Bureau (PWB). These organisations worked together, often on joint operations, to conduct psychological operations aimed at undermining enemy morale and supporting military objectives.

The Field Intelligence Section of the Allied Intelligence Bureau is subdivided geographically into several specific areas to effectively manage intelligence operations. These areas include:

• Netherlands East Indies Area: This section encompasses Dutch and British intelligence efforts, focusing on the strategic archipelago now known as Indonesia.
• Philippines Sub-Section: Managed by American intelligence, this sub-section specifically concentrates on gathering and analysing intelligence related to the Philippines.
• Northeast Area Sub-Section: Controlled by Australian intelligence, this sub-section’s operational area includes Papua and extends to the islands north and east of New Guinea, as well as down through the Solomon Islands, playing a crucial role in the intelligence network across the Southwest Pacific region.

This structure highlights the multifaceted approach of the Allied Intelligence Bureau, combining intelligence gathering, sabotage, and psychological warfare to support Allied efforts in the Pacific theater during World War II.

As General MacArthur’s forces progress northward from Australia, confronting Japanese forces, the Allied Intelligence Bureau’s role becomes increasingly vital. The bureau deploys hundreds of long-range reconnaissance patrols and established observation posts deep behind enemy lines. These units are instrumental in collecting critical information on Japanese troop movements and the challenging terrain faced by Allied forces during 1943 and 1944. Additionally, the Philippine Regional Section of the Allied Intelligence Bureau expands significantly, supporting the guerrilla movement against the Japanese with increased supplies, personnel, and logistics. This expansion leads to the section gaining a semi-independent status within the Allied Intelligence Bureau.

By the end of World War II, the Allied Intelligence Bureau has proven itself as an effective and adaptable intelligence organization. Despite enduring over 400 casualties, its agents and affiliated native contingents inflict significant damage on the enemy, killing over 7,000 and capturing an additional 1,000. More than 1,000 Allied personnel, including ground, air, and navy forces, are successfully rescued from behind enemy lines due to the Allied Intelligence Bureau’s efforts.

One of the most impactful achievements of the Allied Intelligence Bureau is the establishment of 264 long-range reconnaissance teams. These teams create a comprehensive intelligence network in the territories north of Australia. Their efficiency in gathering and relaying intelligence is such that Japanese forces found it increasingly difficult to move without being detected and reported to GHQ. This network plays a crucial role in providing General MacArthur and his headquarters with the intelligence necessary to make informed strategic decisions, contributing significantly to the Allied war effort in the Pacific.