Where does '007' come from?

tshold

I was watching an old interview with Pierce Brosnan today and Jay Leno asked him if he knew where the number '007' comes from? Pierce didn't know and Jay said it was the bus Ian Flemming took to the pub...and that's where he got the inspiration to use 007. Is that true or just something Jay said for a laugh?

Here's the clip:
https://youtu.be/WGw7HHFNpMI?t=224

Asp9mm

Double O was a genuine moniker used during the Second World War, as was M and Q. Mostly to do with the SOE. There is much speculation why he chose #7.