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Operation Sea Eagle (''"Unternehmen Seeadler"'' in German) sometimes referred to as Operation Dove II (''"Unternehmen Taube II"'' in German) was a German Foreign Ministry plan conceived in May 1941 after the collapse of planning around Operation Whale (''"Unternehmen Walfisch"'' in German).〔The German Foreign Ministry referred to the plan as Taube II- this was mostly likely due to the involvement of the high placed operative Frank Ryan within the planning phase. Operation Dove having been the plan involving IRA Chief of Staff Sean Russell in the summer of 1940.〕 The operation was to involve landing a seaplane on a lake in Ireland to supply the Irish Republican Army (IRA) with operating funds and a transmitter. ==Planning== Planning for Sea Eagle took place while German Intelligence (''Abwehr''), and ''Abwehr''/Foreign ministry dual role SS. Colonel Dr. Edmund Vessenmayer, feared an invasion of neutral Éire by American forces soon to be stationed in Northern Ireland. The ''Abwehr'' were to provide technical support for Sea Eagle and the Foreign Ministry was to retain operational control. This was largely because every mission to Ireland so far undertaken had been a complete disaster. On 23 June 1941, the day before the planned invasion of the USSR, Operation Barbarossa, it was decided that all future operations to Ireland would be carried out only with the express approval of Dr. Vessenmayer. The agents initially selected for the task were Abwehr Ireland "expert" Helmut Clissman, and Bruno Rieger. At a later date, Frank Ryan was added when the mission expanded to include a direct liaison with the IRA. It was hoped that with the availability of a long-range transmitter, the IRA would radio back wireless reports for the ''Luftwaffe'' as the Irish government had raised objections to the use of the radio at the German Legation in Dublin.〔This is noted in the Abwehr II. war diary for 21 August 1941.〕 This implies that there was no existing link operating between the IRA and Germany despite agent Hermann Görtz still being at large. The best time for the mission was projected to be between 15 and 25 September 1941. Vessenmayer had consulted with ''Oberstleutnant'' von Harlinghausen of the ''Luftwaffe'' and decided that the Heinkel He 59 seaplane was to be used. The seaplane would cut its engine on descent and glide in to land on the lake. The personnel would make landfall via a rubber dinghy, and carry folding bicycles for transport. The Brandon Bay area in County Kerry was decided to be the best location. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Operation Sea Eagle」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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