The Escape Pipe

An Escape Pipe assembledIt is a common misconception that all pipe manufacturing ceased during World War II when most pipe factories were repurposed to support the war effort. It is true that many factories were repurposed. For example, Comoys made propulsion blades for aero engines. Civic made canvas items that included webbing for parachutes. But some pipe factories, for example Oppenheimer, continued to make pipes.

In fact, pipe-making was a protected industry during both World Wars I and II because soldiers smoked. Although war effectively eliminated most makers’ ability to source briar, the Briar Pipe Trade Association allocated available briar stocks to manufacturers during the wars so that pipes could continue to be made for British forces. Some of those wartime pipes were very special, indeed.

Thanks to spy- and secret-agent novelists like the great Ian Fleming, everyday objects with secret functions are part and parcel of spy lore. Whether it’s fountain pen guns, button cameras, dagger shoes, garrot watches–or even Maxwell Smart’s outrageous shoe phone–gadgets that masquerade as something else have been around since before the cane-sword.

Believe it or not, secretly purposed smoking pipes were manufactured during World War II–and they were no Deus-ex-machina figment of some author’s imagination that was intended to solve a thorny plot problem, either. They really existed.

During World War II, Comoy’s manufactured smoking pipes for the Red Cross as part of an escape kit for Royal Air Force aviators and for prisoners of war. These pipes were made to conceal both a map and a compass. To access the map compartment, one unscrewed the bowl top by turning it. If one unscrewed the mouthpiece, there was a compass at the shank-stem junction. (See illustration above) The Red Cross gave these pipes to aviators or put them in parcels that were given to prisoners of war to help them escape.

In an interview, John Adler, the retired CEO of Cadogan, Ltd., said, “There was a French general who said it [the escape pipe] helped him escape.”

Notes:

1) The depicted pipe is not a Comoy escape pipe, but another brand used for the same purpose with the Comoy compass technology.

2) Facts and narrative are taken from an interview with John J. Adler.

Comments

[Jimbo]

Fascinating story Neill.

Shows that pipe smoking saves lives!

Other WW stories are the superstition about the "third light" (one, seen - two, aim - third, bang!) and the smoking of British cigarettes the wrong way round (so the identifying brand mark was consumed as early as possible).

[Ed Anderson]

Now that is cool Neill. Do you own that escape pipe?

[Riff Raff]

What a fascinating bit of pipe lore. I hope Comoys chose Extraordinaire pipes, a larger compass could fit into those shanks!

[Steve D]

Hi Neill, I have one of these pipes and have been searching for info on it for a while, this is the first valuable info i have found, so many thanks, Would you know if there is any value to it ?
Cheers
Steve

[John]

Just a quick correction to Neil's interesting overview of the escape pipes. They were Not provided by the Red Cross. This was absolutley forbidden by our Evasion and Escape group within the War Office. Red Cross parcels were sacred, since if any escape material was found in them, the Axis forces could withdraw them, leaving our PoWs to starve... They were provided by MI9 via various bogus charities they set up.

Did you find your pipe Steve? Happy to help you with any details you need?

Regards

[Neill Archer Roan]

John,

Actually, John, you're wrong. They were provided to the Red Cross. I have it on authority.

[Steve D]

Hi John.
Re my escape pipe, it came from my grandfathers possessions when he died, although he served in the navy during the first world war so I couldn't have been his.
It has no sentimental value so really I suppose I am looking to find a new owner for it.
Rgds
Steve