E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Courtesy Bletchley Park Trust
This coded message from World War II was found in November enclosed in a canister attached to the leg bone of a dead carrier pigeon.
LONDON — A note written in code that was found on the skeleton of a carrier pigeon dating from World War II has been cracked, according to a Canadian history enthusiast.
Originally discovered in November, the message was enclosed in a red canister attached to the leg bone of the carrier pigeon. David Martin found the pigeon in the chimney of his home in Surrey, England.
The U.K. Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), one of Britain’s three national intelligence agencies, said at the time that the handwritten message “cannot be decoded without access to the original cryptographic material.”
A World War II code delivered by carrier pigeon is stumping today's cypher specialists. Can you break it? NBC's Brian Williams reports.
But Gordon Young, from Peterborough, Ontario, set his mind to deciphering the message using his great-uncle’s World War I code book.
"It follows same sort of code they used in the first war," Young told NBC News. "I’m not saying my note is perfect, but I am saying the code is crackable and this one is pretty close."
Experts: Unbreakable code message found on WWII carrier pigeon
It took Young, the editor of a local volunteer history group, 17 minutes to understand the message, which consists of 25 five-letter code groups.
He believes that the message was sent one afternoon in 1944, not long after the Allied landing at Normandy. It was written by an officer who was dropped behind enemy lines, confirming an earlier lunch-time note he sent giving the map coordinates of the Germans’ guns and tanks. It also confirmed that several units of American and British troops had finally met up.
In addition to using his uncle’s code book, Young double checked with infantry maps online to confirm his hypotheses.
Retirement home bands together to bring WWII stories to life
"To really understand the exact circumstances of the note, we would need access to British and American war diaries from the time," he said.
'Impossible to verify'
Despite Young’s translation, the GCHQ still maintains that without the original codebooks the note is indecipherable.
“We stand by our press notice of 22 November 2012 in that without access to the relevant codebooks and details of any additional encryption used, the message will remain impossible to decrypt,” a spokesman for the GCHQ told NBC News in an emailed statement. “Similarly it is also impossible to verify any proposed solutions, but those put forward without reference to the original cryptographic material are unlikely to be correct.”
Complete World coverage on NBCNews.com
The pigeon is thought to have been part of a flock of 250,000 that were used to carry messages between the European front and Britain during World War II.
"I am hoping that this will stir up some interest in the bravery of the men who were dropped on the battlefield," said Young.
"Imagine a guy dropping down behind enemy lines with crates of pigeons and a couple of bags of feed. How they didn’t get caught is amazing. It wasn't like today where there are unmanned drones. These guys were risking their lives," he added.
More world stories from NBC News:
- Video: Street fighting, shelling in Syria capital
- Conservatives sweep to power in faltering Japan
- Video: Pregnant Duchess Kate makes first public appearance
- Luxury perfume makers create stink over Europe allergy laws
- ANALYSIS: As Egypt votes on its constitution, what is at stake?
- North Korean progress on nuclear arms, long-range missiles rattles US and allies
- 'Who is my Mandela?' South Africans consider icon's place in a changing world
Leave a Comment:
So he cracked the code, but not really.
The pigeons should be awarded medals because they fought for us too.
Actually 32 pigeons were awarded England's highest honor, the Dickin medal, for animals.
Look up "war pigeon" on Wikipedia.
Let the free for all regarding the medal's name begin..............
So, What The Fongonus, was Gordon Young's translation of the code?
I deciphered it and it said :
BE SURE TO DRINK YOUR OVALTINE
I seriously doubt that this guy has decrypted the message. He is simply guessing at the content based on when it was sent. Unless this person can demonstrate a direct correlation between the five letter groups and specific meaning supporting his analysis, I would say that he is making it up based on a knowledge of war history and information about when and where they think it was sent from. I am wondering what happened to the second copy of the message that was sent, apparently with a second pigeon. The message clearly shows in the bottom right that two copies were sent and there are code names for two different pigeons on the message 40TW194 and 37OK76. It seems that this might be a source for a decryption, unless the second pigeon also failed to make it back. Then again, maybe they already know what it says and do not want to make it public so they are making up plausible reasons why it can not be decrypted. I am not trying to start some conspiracy theory, just bringing up some facts that the article apparently chose to ignore.
it clearly states...this is the pigeon who thinks he's santa claus...wonder how that's gon'a work out for him...
It said "Bring back a half kilo of butter and one liter of milk."
I thought the same thing Alan...He cracked it, but it's not perfect and it's crackable....And to think HE thinks it was sent in the beinning of the war...And it was sent by someone trying to get info to someone else...I mean this is breaking news....I can't hide my excitement...
In some ways enlisting homing pigeons as couriers was a practical thing but I can't help but see the irony of humans using animals in warfare. Dogs and horses/mules were/are used routinely and dolphins have been trained by the navy to carry magnetic contact mines in their heads and attach them to "enemy" craft. Other creatures used by the military are elephants (I recently read a book called "What its like going to war" an excellent account) and in one particular encounter in Vietnam the author described the wails and screams of elephants used by the NVA and VC as artillery fire rained down.
The first and last groups AOAKN plus the date 27 1525/6 (Day, time/ month) are the guides on how to break the code. I was a cryptographic specialist for 23 years. Unless you have the code book for that peculiar code, you can't break it.
Good guess. I think he would have posted the message for all to see if he had.
Why is he holding back and yet saying the code is solved? Makes no sense, unless he is trying to attract attention.
More accurately - they DIED for us.
Unless you consider crapping on everything as fighting?
yet...they deserve their own video game...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTNsaQTU-zI
I think ot the detailed mastery of the invasion when I read this. They really thought of everything to use pigeons.
well, the pigeons were used as back up to radio communications in case that failed, which it usually did at the worst possibile time, at least the pigeons kept HQ informed of where units were or where the enemy was.
Flying rats.
'tis true, but these had a more productive purpose than crapping on every car I've ever owned.
Why not tell us the message? I have been waiting for some GOOD news on this event. I would like to think he cracked it.
Agreed. I was hoping to see the message, as well.
Well, they kinda sorta maybe did.
Thanks chefaz, I was so caught up in it I blanked it out! Terrible times but I'm to the point where I think those were the good old days. Hope all is well with you and have a great day! Cool wheels, Yours?
Hope you are well, too.
In many respects, they were.
Nah...when most people are counting sheep, I'm counting classic Cadillacs - other peoples!!! I dream of classic cars. The avatar is probably about as close as I'll ever get to having one. Have a great day!!! ☺
the message: "Send more cracked corn, starlings starving us."
Attn HQ:
Met French Hottie and pinned down in Chalet. Attempting flanking manuver and expect operation to last all weekend. Do not send reinforcements, I have this one covered............Over and out.
Hey, 7-2-7 , I would think that would be over and IN.... what do you think?
In and over..
Roger I'm out..
Over-In-Out.
Over-And-Out
Alpha One-Two, this is pigeon two-three, I read you 5 BY 5, over and out.
Confirmed pigeon two-three. Hear you loud and clear, over and out.
Alpha One-Two this is pigeon two-three....confirm drop was made...I repeat drop was made...bullseye...multiple targets hit....
10 40 Rodger, good buddy, we got ourselves a convoy!
The message was a recipe for squab..
Lol, I wonder how many people know what squab is. Tried it as a young lad once, I believe.
ain't had no squab...in long time it's really good...soak the squab over-nite in some liquor...mogan david or wild irish rose...then throw out the squab...and drink the broth...
about right plain bob,almost same for carp fish,except,after seasoned and 1hr later,eat the plank used to cook carp on.7-2-7 has best idea.or,could of been just stoneage hj,s there.lol.can laugh about that now.
Soooo - is the supposedly cracked message still a secret?
Lame. The story should show what the tool thinks the exact coded message reads. He probly doesn't know, and is bluffing.
uhhh the coordinates, and uhh they met up, you could just make that up
Of course the GCHQ will deny they can decipher this message because it will cost them time and money to do it, regardless of their expertise at Blechley Park during the war. It's just not important to them any more.
A better source is the BBC UK web site. I don't seem able to post a link here, but Google is your friend.
It doesn't have the decoded message, but it does include some examples of the decoded words:
You forgot the final one. HHCWS Hooter's Having Chicken Wing Special
The codes used were never as transparent as these "examples" would make it seem. The five letter groups were completely arbitrary and had no direct relation to what the message said. Also, the "PABLIZ" is incorrect, the letter groupings are each five letters not six and it reads "PABUZ". In addition, the "AOAKN" is repeated in the message which would not make sense if this was simply an identifier for the observer. Also, the message has a time on it of 1522 in a block at the bottom so why would they write a different time in the message itself.
They are saying without the original code book they are unable to decipher it? My God! You mean to tell me that modern day terrorists would be able to use this code and we couldn't do a thing about it? Tyhat is either the most ridiculous thing I ever heard or it is the most terrifying.
There are many codes that are unbreakable. One time ciphers and book ciphers come to mind.
A amateur can decode it, but the British government can't. I guess the Brits and the Yanks are getting more inept day by day.
How is this even a story?
Because it's interesting. At least it is to me, and a few others.
Slow news day....
"well I'm afraid there's nothing Monty can do, at least not for some weeks..."
I doubt it, since the message is a substitution code with the letter groups subbing for words and individual letters as well. Since a Major Mauborge (USMC) devised one-time pads for this class of message in 1918, I doubt if the writer used a no doubt compromised code from WWI in a 1940's pad.
The coded message reads as follows "Colonel Klink is a fink."
I assume that GCHQ denies the decipherability of the message because they are still using the same code.
Unlikely.
Not like we still Navajo for our codes anymore, but that would be pretty cool if we did.
I think this story is for the birds...
Wow. Am I happy they cracked the pigeon code. Now, maybe we can win this war.
In the words of Edward James Olmos... 'Yup that'll do it.'
But really who the ?<:?& cares? It has been almost 60 years and we won that one, pretty sure the birds may have played a part but the 101 really did the job.
What the birds (oh sorry Pigeons', those that we now call the rats of the New York City skies) carried come on tell me, does it really matter?
The wings comment was great though! I wonder if they gave them coordinates as to where the 'no fly' zone to avoid flying into the Hooters Operational Wing Locator (HOWL). And did they (the Pigeons') even know what the heck the were talking about? Pigeons Code? Really? Many other things hold presadence to our current situation than what happened in WWII.
This message is more likely German, not British. Read the book, The Defense of The Realm, by Christopher Andrew and look at P. 302. The almost identical code and deciphering methods and techniques are all there. Enjoy!
The code was broken. Only the HQ was to embarassed to admit that a amature did it.
Agree
The message is in 5 letter morse code groups with Q and Z signals in it. Mr Youngs decipherment is based on using a code book from WWI, I don't know why it would work over 17 yrs later since GCHQ is adamant about the code being from WWII. Below I have deciphered what I believe is correct. the message is the end of a conversation between Stot and X02 site. the first line of groupings are Stot OKing end of X02's message, then the next few lines are a basic radio check on signal strength with recommendations to switch to another frequency and to change modulation if needed. There are numbers within the groups, zero and one are used. See decipher below. Q and Z signals can be verified by simple google search. The tip off/clue to me was the OTA in the 5th line first group of letters, the second line 3rd group if you look at the written code it is a small circle versus a alrge one as seen through rest of code, this is a zero and also note the 4th group 2nd letter it is a one vice letter I, it is alos in lower case and appears again in the 4th line of the code. the 27 is number of code groups and the 1525/6 is time/day.
Hopefully this will not be all ran together as I 've seen on other post I did.
AOAKN HVPKD FNFJW YIDDC OK K
RQXSR DJHFP GOVFN MIAPX QSR 01
PABUZ WYYNP CMPNW HJRZH ZYP ZHN
NLXKG MEMKK ONOIB AKEEQ KKK 01 K EE
WAOTA RBQRH DJOFM TPZEH OTA QRH 0 ZEH
LKXGH RGGHT JRZCQ FNKTQ K ZCQ K
KLDTS FQIRW AOAKN 27 1525/6 K QRW OK
OK K(wait)
QSR(do you want me to repeat my call) o1(1 minute)
ZYP(change from multiplex to single printer) ZHN(your automatic transmissions are...)
KK o1 K EE
OTA(off the air) QRH(does my frequency vary) 0(zero) ZEH(accuracy of following message is doubtful.
Correction or confirmation will be forwarded when recieved)
K ZCQ(change FM/FDM mode to mode....(A/D) with deviation.....khz) K
K 1 QRW(you are weak....radio signal) K