Based upon detailed analysis of official records, the author describes a scenario in which the Germans were fully aware of the British breaking the Enigma codes, and how they would have responded.

In both world wars, radio was a primary means of communication and searching for enemy radio traffic became top priority. Using radio intercepts enabled the Germans to inflict devastating losses on the Russians in 1914; mis-using radio intercepts saw the Royal Navy fail to catch the German fleet. Radio warfare played a critical role during the Battle of Britain and the battle of the Atlantic: regardless of what a U boat transmitted, the British developed the technology to catch them the moment they began to broadcast. From 1914 to the great campaigns of World War II, radio intercepts shaped the course of history.

Excellent introduction to the secret war of radio intercept and codebreaking

BLETCHLEY PARK AIR SECTION support to RAF BOMBER COMMAND:

Combined Bombing Offensive 1943-1945, with the 8^th US Army Air Force

Since the late 1970s, many books and reports have been published that collectively present very detailed information about the Enigma story during WW2– but curiously much less about the operational use that information served?  For example, what was the connection between Bletchley Park and the Combined Bombing Offensive?

These two major subjects both had a significant impact on the conduct and progression of WW2 from 1943 onwards, and it will be shown that there are two other subjects that had great aggregate importance to both of them: The Y-Service and Radio Countermeasures.

The combination of these four subjects in an operational context presents a fascinating story that has had little cohesive visibility.  The operational connection between them has remained obscure.  On the way to describing that operational connection and the benefits thereby provided to the planning and conduct of bombing operations, a number of other organisations become involved in various ways, for example: the Air Ministry Intelligence department; the Combined Strategic Targets Committee; the German Air Defence system; and No. 100 Group within Bomber Command that provided the bomber support Radio Countermeasures (RCM) from late 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. 

The Foreword has been written by Sir Arthur Bonsall, KCMG, a founder member of the Air Section at Bletchley and subsequently Director at GCHQ (1973/78), who writes:

“I welcome this report as the first thorough account of an aspect of Sigint history that has so far received little attention. Aileen Clayton’s book, “The Enemy is Listening”, is an excellent account of a branch of the RAF Y-Service, but Wing Commander Stubbington is, as far as I know, the first writer to understand and describe the role of the Air Section at Bletchley Park.

It is gratifying for me that what I recall from my experience in the German Air Section from 1940 to 1945 is broadly confirmed by his research into the records. The original material (messages in Enigma, lower grade codes and radio telephony) intercepted by the Y-Service radio operators has been destroyed. Fortunately, a quantity of the Air Section’s output based on this material has survived. These are reports in the BMP series, including those incorporating relevant Ultra material. Wing Commander Stubbington has brought these reports to light and has investigated what use was made of them in the 1943-45 Combined Offensive by RAF Bomber Command and the US Army Air Forces.

He shows that Bletchley Park and the Y-Service gave a great deal of support to these operations. His description of the nature of that support in both strategic and tactical contexts provides a fascinating insight into the relationship of special intelligence and radio countermeasures. Regarded nowadays as an essential prerequisite for military operations, they were then at the leading edge of operational technologies.”

For further information, please contact:

John Stubbington     [Tel:  01420-562722;     john.stubbington@btinternet.com ]

Trinity Hill Bungalow, Trinity Hill, Medstead, Alton, Hants, GU34 5LT