The Spy in the Hanoi Hilton

Documentarian and former BBC producer, David Taylor was stunned when he uncovered the last best kept secret of the Vietnam War. Taylor takes us behind the scenes of the research and creation of his film The Spy in the Hanoi Hilton. Hỏa Lò Prison was used by the Northern Vietnamese to hold and torture American POWs. The prison, nicknamed the Hanoi Hilton, held many aviators who had been shot down, including prominent figures such as Senator John McCain and Vice Admiral Jim Stockdale. Throughout their captivity, prisoners were in contact with the CIA through ever more sophisticated methods of communication, which led to a secret rescue mission that remained classified for 40 years. Taylor and special guest Robert Wallace, former Deputy Director of the CIA’s Office of Technical Services, will share this extraordinary tale of the prisoners’ courage and determination matched by the commitment shown by CIA officers and the Office of Naval Intelligence to save them. And in case you were wondering, Taylor will also describe how he persuaded the CIA to assist in telling the story of this classified program. This presentation was recorded live at the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC on April 27, 2026. Spy Museum's upcoming programs: https://www.spymuseum.org/calendar/ Follow us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IntlSpyMuseum Twitter: https://twitter.com/intlspymuseum​​​​​​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spymuseum SpyCast: https://www.spymuseum.org/podcast/ The Spy Museum does not endorse, approve, or support the opinions stated by guest speakers. Statements made by speakers do not represent the position or opinion of the International Spy Museum.