Bruce Barrymore Halpenny-British military historian and Author
Living as I do in a remote southern colony, I hadn't hear of this guy, so I 'did a Google' and found his Wiki page.
Yes his CV does raise questions. But is he simply doing some buttering up to sell books?
As to him being on 'Special Duties', this raises a question as to just what did the phrase mean?
When I was posted to the RAF Liaison Party Istres in 1957, I was on 'Special Duties'. There was absolutely no hint that it was anything cloak & dagger. It was because of some diplomatic reason, and us being in France. I understood that the term was also applied to all Air Attache's and their staff.
In another life, while on a Valiant Squadron, the RAFP dog handlers that guided our dispersal's at night were not seen as any sort of James Bond type.