too soon last month we told you about the recent cause todecrypt a secret World War II message found on the remains of a military pigeon . Since oeuvre startedthe team has made zero progression and they ’re completely stumped . But now , the editor of a local history magazine in Ontario is claiming that he ’s deciphered the message — and that it carry him just 17 hour to do it .
https://gizmodo.com/remains-of-world-war-ii-military-pigeon-ignites-code-my-5956950
To quickly recap , U.K. resident David Martin discovered the remains of a pigeon while revivify his lamp chimney . Upon closer review he noticed that the dead bird had a red abridgement seize to its leg , what has now been confirm as a top secluded message that was en path to an unknown location in Britain during World War II . Based on a few clues , some expert suspect that the Bronx cheer was repay from Normandy before long after the Allied landing place — and that it carried some authoritative intelligence .
Historians think it ’s important because the 27 handwritten blocks of computer code were send by not one , but two birds — neither of which made it to their finish .
Now , using World War II logbook , the GCHQ squad at Bletchley Park has been working to crack the code . And therein , argue Peterborough ’s Gord Young , consist the root of the problem .
Young , who is the editor of a local story group , Lakefield Heritage Research , make do that it ’s not a WWII code at all — but rather a World War I code . Young materialise to be in the self-command of a Royal Flying Corp [ 92 Sqd - Canadian ] aeriform beholder ’ book he inherit from his uncle , and after some wide-eyed crisscross referencing he was able-bodied to decipher the message in a affair of minutes .
Young believes that the substance detail German troop situation in Normandy . So , assuming he ’s ripe , the message was jolly damned important .
He also believe that it was written by 27 - class - old Sgt William Stott , a Lancashire Fusilier , who had been dropped into Normandy — along with pigeons — to report on German positions . He was killed a few hebdomad later and is bury in a Normandy war cemetery .
The BBCexplainswhy it ’s potential that a World War I computer code could have been used during the Normandy invasion .
The codification is unsubdivided , relying hard on acronyms , said Mr Young .
Some 250,000 pigeon were used during the war by all services and each was given an identity numeral . There are two pigeon identification numeral in the content – NURP.40.TW.194 and NURP.37.OK.76 . Mr Young say Sgt Stott would have mail both these bird – with selfsame substance – at the same time , to ensure the information got through .
“ fundamentally , Stott was instruct by a WWI flight simulator ; a former Artillery observer - picket . you may deduce this from the spelling of Serjeant which dates mystifying in Brits military and as tardy as WWI , ” he say .
“ interpret that spelling almost mechanically severalise you that the acronyms are going to be similar to those of WWI .
“ You will see the World War I artillery acronyms are short , but , that is because , you have to recollect , that , the archaic radio - transmitters that ship the Morse computer code were run by assault and battery , and , those did n’t last much more than a half - minute superlative , probably less .
“ Thus all World War I code had to be S - n - S , Short - n - sugared .
“ And , as you could understandably see , Stott get a major report out on a pigeon . ”
Dude seems to fuck what he ’s talking about . And since lay claim to have cracked the computer code , Young has get through Britain ’s codebreakers at GCHQ — but they remain skeptical . While very concerned in seeing his results , they importune that “ without access to the relevant codebooks and details of any extra encryption used , the content will remain impossible to decrypt . ”
In reception , Young tell apart the BBC that it ’s not complex . “ folk music are trying to over - think this matter . ”
UPDATE :
A reader alarm us to a Telegrapharticlethat has published the ( alleged ) contents of the content :
Artillery percipient at ‘ kelvin ’ Sector , Normandy . Requested home base supplement report . Panzer attack – blitz . West Artillery Observer Tracking Attack .
Lt Knows extra guns are here . Know where local despatch station is . Determined where Jerry ’s home office front posts . Right battery central office right here .
Found central office foot right here . Final note , confirming , found Jerry ’s whereabouts . Go over field notes . Counter measuring stick against Panzers not working .
Jerry ’s veracious battery central headquarters here . Artillery observer at ‘ kilobyte ’ sector Normandy . Mortar , infantry attack panzers .
Hit Jerry ’s right field or Reserve Battery Here . Already roll in the hay electrical engineers headquarters . Troops , panzer , batteries , engine driver , here . last bank note know to central office . ”
“ Jerry ” of course was how the Brits , aka “ Tommies ” , referred to the Germans .
Source and images : BBC .
Encryptionmilitary history
Daily Newsletter
Get the better technical school , science , and culture newsworthiness in your inbox day by day .
News from the future , delivered to your present .
Please choose your desired newssheet and submit your email to upgrade your inbox .
You May Also Like
