UK computer history gets new home - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

13 Jul 2007

There is quite a lot more of what happened re the Japanese codes in the
various books that have been published. The breaking of JN25 by Rochfort
to reveal the plan to invade Midway Island and the susequent loss of
three carriers by the Japanese has been the subject of books, TV
programmes and films.  

Another coup was the decoding of Yamamoto's inspection plans and the
shooting down of his plane at extrame range 
by US twin engined Lockheed Lightning fighters.

Some of the Japanese codes were quite weak due the mistaken belief that
the Japanese language and Japanese morse code provided a level of
protection. (They didn't!!)

As to the Germans. The Abwehr did break the allied convoy code and a
forward mobile unit in North Africa had considerable success with
Montgomery's radio traffic. They did that is, until overrun and
captured. 

Rod Smallwood

-----Original Message-----
From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org
[mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of William Donzelli
Sent: 13 July 2007 00:53
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: UK computer history gets new home

...
  What gets me a little is the comparative lack of
recognition that all 
 the others working on projects like Colossus have received; Turing 
 still gets publicity (rightly so), but not much ever gets said about 
 all the others who were contributing effort and ideas. 
This is a very common problem, especially when dealing with wartime
technologies and who gets the credit. Two of the big factors are state
secrecy, and the old saying "the victor writes the history books".

For the former, one can look at the breaking of the Japanese codes
(purple being the most famous). The Enigma and Lorenz stories are now
pretty much out in the open and declassified, but the Japanese stuff is
still locked up in secrecy. Under the veil of secrecy, the guys that did
the work can not get the credit.

For the latter, one can see just how little (almost no) credit is given
to the Axis powers. There is very credible evidence that Allied codes
were broken during World War 2. It is likely the Germans had some sort
of equivalent of Bletchley, but is probably forever lost.
The Allies were not about to give credit to the Axis engineers. Many
still will not.

It is bothers you - then speak up. Give the guys credit. Spread the
word. They deserve it.

--
Will