Bletchley Girls

[dawnsh]

I saw a preview recently of the new 'Imitation Game' film about Alan Turing.

It was suggested in the film that Bletchley Park was known as a radio manufacturers when friends and family asked.

[Flattybasher9]

The capture of U-505  by the Americans greatly enhanced the workings of Bletchley Park. Also, dogged habits of certain German communicators/enigma operators.

Regards

Malky

[jim1]

Officially Bletchley Park didn't exist. All signposts referring to it were removed & it went by the name of Station X.
The 1st. Enigma m/c was captured by HMS Bulldog 1941.

[IMBER]

Yes, the capture by the Americans of U-505 was in July 1944. The British had recovered an Enigma machine from U-110 in 1941 and Enigma codes etc from U-559 in 1942.

Imber

[Gwendoline Francis]

Thanks for all responses concerning the Bletchley Girls, I found Mary Ratcliffe's story thoroughly fascinating because of her actual participation during WW2 years.

The mention of Alan Turing reminded me of a very good movie, more like a documentary of Alan's life story shown on Netflex movie channel. The film is called Codebreaker with Ed Stoppard playing the leading role.
I have not yet seen the Benedict Cumberbach version of Alan Turing but, I am sure it will not be as accurate or as convincing as Stoppard's movie.

Such a shame about Alan Turing, a genius, who was treated disgracefully by the government because of his sexual preference.

[chalstead]

There has recently been a tv new series called The Bletchley Circle. It is highly fictionalised but I think it is an attempt to start to get at the Bletchley story without uncovering the secrecy of the war.

[Gwendoline Francis]

It just dawned on me that there was a Cold War after the end of WW2, so it was vital that the Russians were kept out of knowing about the secret codes etc., hence the secrecy of the Bletchley Girls.
I also found out the plans to demolish the site to built a housing estate were vetoed, let's us hope it remains a special part of British history & WW2.

[jim1]

The Allies knew the Russians had captured the Enigma m/c on their march into Germany & were more than likely to adapt it & use it themselves.
The Russians were never told about Colossus & although 4 were destroyed 2 were kept I believe into the 1960's.

[tazzie]

 Alan Turing lodged at the Crown public house in Shenley Brook End during his time at Bletchley Park. He would cycle to work wearing a gas mask due to pollen not the threat of attack.  The village was hit by German bombs in October 1940 falling near Dovecote farm a couple of hundred yards up the road. There is a story that Alan worried about keeping his savings safe and converted it to silver bars which he buried around the village he never found them. I haven't checked my back garden but you never know.

 Tazzie in Shenley Brook End