How Not To Be Seen

August 12, 2015 10:33 AM

From the manuals of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE), a discussion of camouflage, disguises, and other ways to conceal oneself. (SLSlate)

(Yes, being able to use that title was part of why I posted this.)

posted by NoxAeternum (10 comments total)

*explodes*
posted by SansPoint at 10:50 AM on August 12, 2015 [7 favorites]

Wear dark grey and dark green, not black, despite what the Assassins' Guild may say.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:05 AM on August 12, 2015 [9 favorites]

It was the middle one.
posted by PJMoore at 11:10 AM on August 12, 2015 [3 favorites]

Mr. E.W. Lambert of Homeleigh, The Burrows, Oswestly, has presented us with a poser.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 11:20 AM on August 12, 2015 [5 favorites]

The first rule of not being seen is not to stand up.
posted by Shibboleth at 11:22 AM on August 12, 2015 [2 favorites]

There are so many great quotes in this article, but I think the ending has to be the best:

A large bush looks much less likely to be a man’s head than something that is exactly the size and shape of a man’s head.

posted by cardioid at 11:25 AM on August 12, 2015 [11 favorites]

You can't fault the logic. Whereas this:

a man dressed in grey clothing may, in a country such as this, pass for a rock

seems to be aiming at trenchant social critique, ersatz existentialism, or perhaps a doggerel version of The Waste Land.
posted by sobarel at 11:51 AM on August 12, 2015 [5 favorites]

SOE Q division generally uses a standard class 2 Hand of Glory (nowadays made from pigeon claws), but some stronger invisibility wards may be woven into clothes using conductive thread.
posted by infinitewindow at 11:59 AM on August 12, 2015 [9 favorites]

Note: this is best read to yourself in the voice of your favorite SOE veteran.

(By which I mean Sir Christopher Lee. Otherwise what the hell's wrong with you?)
posted by McCoy Pauley at 1:37 PM on August 12, 2015 [3 favorites]

Did German parachutists disguise themselves as nuns, or was that paranoid propaganda?

Also, this seemed like good advice, until I wondered about an invasion of the Hebrides:

Having realized that disguise is not necessarily a matter of wearing a false red beard or getting a stage cow, its possibilities increase considerably.

But that's exactly what you would need there!
posted by Joe in Australia at 3:15 PM on August 12, 2015