44-776: The " Canadian Caper " was the joint covert rescue by the Canadian government and the CIA of six American diplomats who had evaded capture during the seizure of the United States embassy in Tehran, Iran , on November 4, 1979, after the Iranian Revolution , when Islamist students took most of the American embassy personnel hostage, demanding the return of the US-backed Shah for trial. After
88-665: A British diplomatic compound before it became obvious that the militants were searching for the diplomats and had confronted the British embassy. All of the diplomats involved agreed that the residence of the Canadian Ambassador would be better suited to sheltering them. Argo won three Oscars , including Best Picture , at the 85th Academy Awards on February 24, 2013. Historian Robert Wright also covered these events in his book Our Man in Tehran (2010). A companion documentary film of
132-641: A Canadian. Taylor agreed, and placed Schatz in the Sheardown residence. The Canadians had taken great personal risks in sheltering the Americans, giving refuge in their private homes to the six American diplomats who were in danger. Two "friendly-country" embassy officials assisted as well, and an unoccupied diplomatic residence was used for several weeks. Taylor contacted Flora MacDonald , Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs , and Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark for assistance. They expressed support for
176-463: A Chinese immigrant family. She was sixth in the family of eleven children and was raised in the town of Townsville . Lee worked in the family's grocery store while continuing to pursue music and ballet. She completed her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in science at the University of Queensland , where she studied under Australian virologist and microbiologist Macfarlane Burnet . She later went to
220-497: A film named Argo , based on the 1967 Roger Zelazny science fiction novel Lord of Light . The original Lord of Light project, produced by Barry Geller and starring Rosey Grier , had been abandoned before the start of filming after funds were embezzled; concept art by Jack Kirby existed, and the script was set on a planet with a Middle-Eastern feel, which the team could use to justify their desire to scout locations in Iran. To make
264-507: A hostile extraction was Battle of Boz Qandahari , in which U.S. Army Special Forces used donkeys to reach their extraction point while under enemy fire. Another example of an extraction was the joint U.S. Central Intelligence Agency - Canadian government operation to smuggle six fugitive American diplomatic personnel out of revolutionary Iran in 1980 in an operation later known as the Canadian Caper . This military -related article
308-520: A memoir Mendez wrote—by Chris Terrio as the basis of the 2012 film Argo . On September 14, 2023, as part of the season finale of The Langley Files podcast , the CIA disclosed the identity of "Julio" to be Ed Johnson, a linguist and expert in extractions. When the Islamic Iranian Revolution occurred, the US-backed Shah of Iran , Mohammad Reza Pahlavi , fled the country. Amid the turmoil,
352-632: A mob of young Islamists, known as the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line , stormed the US Embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979, capturing dozens of diplomats and holding them hostage. They demanded the return of the Shah to Iran for trial. The provisional government fell shortly thereafter, when Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan and his cabinet resigned. Although the new Iranian government stated that
396-511: A scene for the science-fiction film Argo , production of which had in fact been abandoned. On the morning of Sunday, January 27, 1980, the full eight-person party passed through passport control, at the Mehrabad Airport in Tehran, boarded a Swissair flight to Zürich and escaped Iran. An article written about these events was published in Wired in 2007. The article was used loosely—alongside
440-507: A secret location in Florida until the hostage situation was resolved. Mendez and Johnson continued to Frankfurt , Germany, where Mendez wrote his after-action report. The next day, the story broke in Montreal , in an article written by Jean Pelletier, Washington correspondent for La Presse ; it was quickly picked up by the international press. The CIA drove the six diplomats from Switzerland to
484-417: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Patricia Taylor Patricia Elsie Taylor CM ( née Lee ; March 20, 1929 – September 9, 2024) was an Australian-born Canadian microbiologist and virologist best-known for her role in the Canadian Caper during the 1979 Iranian revolution . As a scientist, she published over 100 scientific papers on tropical diseases, viral infections and
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#1732851635400528-562: The Congressional Gold Medal by the United States Congress for his critical assistance to the United States. Pelletier had uncovered some of the facts concerning the escaped diplomats before January 28, 1980, but he did not publish the story. He knew the safety of those involved had to be preserved, although there was great news value to the paper and writer. Several other news organizations also possessed some elements of
572-603: The HIV/AIDS epidemic. Taylor was appointed to the Order of Canada for her efforts in aiding six American diplomats to escape Iran during the Iran hostage crisis along with her diplomat husband Kenneth D. Taylor , who was then the Canadian ambassador to Iran. Taylor was born Patricia Elsie Lee on March 20, 1929, in Ayr, Queensland , Australia, to Mayzie Kwong Sue Duk and Ernest Howard Lee Hang Gong, in
616-530: The Queensland Institute of Medical Research and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine . As she accompanied her husband to multiple diplomatic postings, she continued her research on infectious diseases at multiple institutions in these countries at a time when it was not allowed for diplomats' spouses to work. Some of the institutions at which she did her research during this period included
660-522: The "Studio Six" office in Los Angeles would be answered, should anyone call to check on the film's production. Display ads for the upcoming "Studio Six" film were placed in Hollywood publications, and one such newspaper was given to Cora Lijek to carry as part of her cover materials. The team also prepared fake business cards, held a film party at a nightclub in Los Angeles, and took out early advertisements for
704-619: The American Medical Association , and the American Journal of Epidemiology . Taylor is known for her actions in the Canadian Caper , a covert operation that helped six American diplomats escape Iran during the Iranian hostage crisis during the Iranian Revolution in 1979. When the U.S. Embassy in Tehran was stormed by militants, leading to the capture of 53 Americans, six diplomats managed to avoid capture and sought refuge at
748-575: The Americans out of Iran in January 1980. The event later became the subject of multiple films, including the Academy Award–winning Argo (2012). Taylor was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1981. The citation called out her work as a research microbiologist and her role in the Iranian crisis and efforts in aiding the escape of six American diplomats from that country. In 1992, Taylor
792-452: The Canadian embassy through a Canadian diplomatic courier . Mendez and Johnson flew to Tehran for the rescue. Mendez and Johnson had previously worked together in the CIA's Office of Technical Service (OTS) branch. Alternative passports and identities had been prepared for a variety of scenarios, but the cover story selected had the six as Canadians working on a Hollywood crew scouting movie locations. The elaborate back-story concerned
836-421: The Canadian embassy. Taylor, alongside her husband, then the Canadian Ambassador to Iran, hid the diplomats in their home for over two months disguising them as Canadian tourists. Taylor not only helped keep the diplomats' presence a secret but also participated in the plan to smuggle them out of the country using false Canadian passports. The operation, devised with assistance from the CIA, succeeded in getting
880-660: The Institute of Nutrition for Central America and Panama in Guatemala , Pasteur Institute of Iran and the Iranian National Blood Transfusion Service in Tehran , Iran. When Taylor returned to New York, she worked in the front lines of the then emerging HIV/AIDS epidemic working with the New York Blood Center 's Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute . Her work during this period contributed to
924-580: The Sheardowns. They were sheltered by the two Canadian households for a total of 79 days. On November 27, Taylor received a call from the Swedish ambassador Kaj Sundberg , asking him to take in American Lee Schatz. Schatz had initially slept on the floor at the Swedish embassy and later stayed at the apartment of Swedish consul Cecilia Lithander. However, the Swedish ambassador felt he could better impersonate
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#1732851635400968-562: The US Central Intelligence Agency to be used in an attempt to escape from Iran. The CIA enlisted two disguise and exfiltration experts, Tony Mendez and Ed Johnson (whose cover name was "Julio") to provide a cover story, documents, appropriate clothing, and materials to change their appearances. Mendez and Johnson worked closely with Canadian government staff in Ottawa , who forwarded the passports and other supporting material to
1012-657: The US Ramstein Air Base in West Germany to be flown across the Atlantic to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The eight Americans in the "caper" left Iran on Sunday, January 27. The Canadians closed their embassy the same day. Ambassador Taylor and the remaining staff returned to Canada. The six American diplomats arrived in the United States on January 30, 1980. The six rescued American diplomats: The Canadians involved in
1056-493: The United States and obtained a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley . Her research during this time focused on studying the relation between malnutrition and inflammatory responses . Taylor began her research career at Berkeley where she studied encephalitis and the impact of malnutrition on immune response. She later shifted her research focus to the study of tropical diseases and viral infections . She held multiple teaching positions at institutions including
1100-510: The compound. The Anders group neared the British embassy, but saw a huge crowd staging a protest in their path. Robert Anders invited the others to his home, as he lived nearby. Over a six-day odyssey, the Anders group, aided by Thai cook Somchai "Sam" Sriweawnetr, went from house to house, including one night spent at the British residential compound. After three days, the Bazargan government fell, and
1144-466: The concealment of the diplomats might have been discovered. Early on the morning of Sunday, January 27, 1980, Mendez, Johnson, and the six American diplomats, traveling with real Canadian passports and forged entry documents, easily made it through security at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport . After a short delay because of mechanical difficulties with the McDonnell Douglas DC-8-62 ,
1188-653: The consulate, a separate building in the embassy compound, when the Iranians came over the wall. Two groups of diplomats fled into Tehran's streets with orders to walk to the British Embassy: The Anders group (excluding Schatz), along with two Americans seeking consular services (including Kim King, who later had a local embassy employee help him obtain an exit visa and fly out of Iran); and the second group, including Consul General Richard Morefield . The latter took an indirect route and were soon captured and returned to
1232-400: The cover believable, Mendez and Johnson enlisted the help of John Chambers , a veteran Hollywood make-up artist. They established a functioning office at Sunset Gower Studios on Sunset Boulevard, named "Studio Six Productions" (a nod to the six diplomats). It used office space that actor Michael Douglas had recently used while making the film The China Syndrome (1979). Telephone calls to
1276-519: The diplomats had been sheltered by the British mission and Canadian diplomatic personnel, the Canadian and United States governments worked on a strategy to gain their escape through subterfuge and use of Canadian passports. The "caper" involved two CIA officers ( Tony Mendez and his colleague Ed Johnson) joining the six diplomats in Tehran to form a fake film crew. It was purportedly made up of six Canadians, one Irishman and one Latin American, who were finishing scouting for an appropriate location to shoot
1320-674: The diplomats realized the ordeal would not be over quickly. Looking for options, Anders contacted his old friend John Sheardown, a Canadian immigration officer, and received an enthusiastic invitation for the entire group. On November 10, five from the original Anders group (Anders, the Lijeks and the Staffords) arrived at the Sheardown residence. In addition to seeing John and Zena Sheardown , they were greeted by Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor. The Staffords were taken by Taylor to his home, where they joined his wife Patricia (Pat) . The other three stayed with
1364-487: The event was written by 2013 Eric Hoffer Award –winner Laura Scandiffio and Stephen MacEachern, entitled Escapes! The critically and commercially successful film Argo , based on this event, was released in North American cinemas on October 12, 2012. In the film, the role of John Sheardown and his wife Zena were omitted for reasons of length and cost. The film includes elements of both fact and fiction. In particular,
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1408-503: The film focuses largely on the role the CIA played in the operation and minimizes the extended involvement of the Canadians, and their share of strategy and preparation. Former President Jimmy Carter acknowledged this in an interview in 2013, while also praising the film. In addition, the film incorrectly states that the six American diplomats had been turned away by the British and New Zealand embassies. The American diplomats spent one night in
1452-463: The film in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter industry magazines. Robert Sidell, a friend of Chambers and also a makeup artist, posed as a film producer at related events, while his wife Joan performed as the receptionist at "Studio Six". Chambers was later awarded CIA's Intelligence Medal of Merit for his help in the operation. A mistake was made in dating the visas, as the Iranian year begins at
1496-540: The group boarded Swissair flight 363 (Registration: HB-IDL) for Zürich , Switzerland. By coincidence, the aircraft was named Aargau , after the Aargau canton in northern Switzerland. Upon landing in Zürich, the six diplomats were taken by CIA operatives to a mountain lodge safe house for the night. There, they were told that, for diplomatic purposes, they would not be able to talk to the press and that they would be kept hidden in
1540-414: The hostage-takers were students acting on their own, it joined in demands for the return of the Shah. Most of the hostages were held until early 1981. Robert Anders, Cora Amburn-Lijek, Mark Lijek, Joseph Stafford, Kathleen Stafford and Lee Schatz were the six American diplomats who were harboured by Canadian diplomats Ken Taylor and John Sheardown and exfiltrated from Tehran in 1980. They were working in
1584-502: The rescue were appointed to the Order of Canada , Canada's second-highest civilian award. They included: Zena Sheardown, a British subject born in Guyana , would normally have been ineligible for the Order. Flora MacDonald intervened to ensure that she was awarded honorary membership, later converted to full membership when she became a Canadian citizen. Ambassador Taylor was subsequently awarded
1628-447: The same title was released in 2013. And popular British docudrama television series Banged Up Abroad featured the story in 2014 as the focus of its Series 9 episode The Real Argo . Media Extraction (military) In military tactics , extraction is the process of removing personnel or units from an area; when conducted with stealth in an area controlled by the enemy it is referred to as exfiltration . An example of
1672-455: The sheltering effort. They decided to smuggle the six Americans out of Iran on an international flight by using Canadian passports for them. To do so, an Order in Council was made to issue official multiple copies of Canadian passports, with various fake identities, to the American diplomats in Canadian sanctuary. The passports that were issued contained a set of forged Iranian visas prepared by
1716-621: The spring equinox. One of the Canadian embassy officers spotted the mistake while checking the documents. Fortunately, extra passports had been included, so Mendez and Johnson were able to insert new visa stamps with dates based on the Iranian calendar. As the weeks passed during this preparation, the American diplomats read and played games, mainly cards and Scrabble . Taylor worked to fly out non-essential Canadian embassy personnel. Taylor sent others on fake errands, both to establish erratic patterns and to case airport procedures. Tension rose as suspicious telephone calls and other activity indicated that
1760-493: The story. Pelletier's article ran on January 29 as soon as he knew the hostages had left Iran. But his exposure of the operation resulted in the US having to end their plans to house the six Americans secretly while the hostage drama continued. The Argo story was blown, but the CIA's role was kept secret by both the US and Canadian governments at the time. They wanted to ensure the safety of the remaining hostages. The CIA's full involvement
1804-531: The understanding of viral infections and specifically of HIV/AIDS when the medical community was still coming to terms with the complexity of the disease. Taylor was a recipient of fellowships including the Fulbright scholarship and the Rockefeller fellowship . Through her career, she published over 100 scientific papers, which were published in journals including The New England Journal of Medicine , Journal of
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1848-476: Was flown in many locations across the United States, and ads were taken out on "Thank You" billboards. In 1981, a television movie about the Canadian Caper was made, Escape from Iran: The Canadian Caper , directed by Lamont Johnson , with Kenneth D. Taylor played by Gordon Pinsent . The movie was filmed in and around Toronto, and was an American-Canadian co-production. A children's illustrated book about
1892-774: Was named Woman of the Year by the Canadian Women's Club in New York. Taylor was married to Canadian diplomat Kenneth D. Taylor , whom she met while studying at the University of California in Berkeley where they were both members of the International House . The couple was married in 1960 and went on to have a son. Her husband predeceased her in 2015. She returned to Canada, settling in Ottawa, Ontario , after her husband's death. Taylor
1936-487: Was not revealed until 1997, when records were declassified. President Jimmy Carter had officially maintained for negotiation purposes that all of the missing American diplomats were held hostage, so the news about six being rescued came as a complete surprise to the public. American gratitude for the Canadians' actions was displayed widely and by numerous American television figures and ordinary citizens alike, who particularly recognized Taylor for gratitude. The Canadian flag
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