Episode
Counterspy: The Recruited Nurse (A0084)
- Published
- May 2, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2244
- Processing state
processed
Actions
POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-great-detectives-of-old-time-radio-daily-mystery-dramas-162279/episodes/counterspy-the-recruited-nurse-a0084/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-great-detectives-of-old-time-radio-daily-mystery-dramas-162279/counterspy-the-recruited-nurse-a0084.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.
Summary
An escaped federal prisoner uses plastic surgery to hide his identity, leading David Harding on a hunt through the nursing profession. The investigation hinges on undercover interrogation and the identification of a wartime nurse.
Topics
- Old Time Radio
- Mystery Drama
- Counterspy
- David Harding
- Crime Fiction
- 1940s Radio
- Undercover Investigation
- Historical Radio Broadcasts
Highlights
- Main idea: An escaped bank robber uses extreme facial disfigurement to evade federal authorities
- Tension: The investigation relies on a high-stakes undercover operation to trick a nurse into revealing the truth
- Failure mode: Relying on visual identification when a criminal has undergone reconstructive surgery
- Practical takeaway: Intelligence work often requires leveraging shared history and social engineering rather than direct confrontation
- Historical context: The episode reflects the post-WWII era of nursing shortages and the evolution of airline safety
Chapters
1:00The Knife Promotion: A look at the vintage 'Old Nick' candy bar sponsorship and its unique promotional offers.3:40The Escapee: A general alarm is broadcast for Rick Malone, a dangerous federal prisoner on the run.6:20A False Identity: The criminal attempts to reintegrate into society using the persona of Bill Gordon.9:00The Pattern Emerges: Police identify a pattern of reports linking recent incidents to the escaped convict.14:20Family Secrets: Tensions rise as the criminal's past and his connection to his niece are explored.17:10The Undercover Plan: David Harding plans to pose as a former colleague to interrogate a registered nurse.26:00The Resolution: The conclusion of the hunt and the final confrontation with the escaped prisoner.