Fortieth edition of the N&O column / Spooks newsletter

(Date: Mon, 03 Sep 2001 21:38:10 +0200)

Crypto

Navajo code talkers

After reading last month's item about the Navajo Code Talkers, Spence sent me a note in which he tells me that he visited the Navajo Code Talkers Exhibit in Kayenta, AZ. He attached a copy of the exhibition pamphlet which describes the Code Talkers. Contrary to what has been published by a number of sources, Philip Johnson is not the one who invented the code, they say.

On the back of the pamphlet is the following:

"The actual creators of the Navajo Code Project were Major
General Clayton B. Fogel, Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet
and Commandant Thomas Holcomb, USMC."

On page two of the pamphlet is the following:

"Philip Johnson, a minister's son was often given credit
for conceiving the concept of a Navajo Code. Although he
was a catalyst in the concept of a Navajo Code, he was
also considered a braggart and was suspected by the Marine
Corps for disclosing the Navajo Code secret to the Arizona
Highways Magazine in June 1943 through a report by the head
of the Navajo Bureau of Indian Affairs, James Stewart."

If you are in the neighbourhood, you might want to visit the exhibit.

The address is as follows:

Navajo Code talkers Exhibit
Post Office Box 1219
Highway 160
Kayenta, Arizona 86033

Secret code breaker books

During my visit to Bletchley Park I found a nice 100 page book called 'Secret Code Breaker', by Robert Reynard. The book covers all kinds of historic crypto codes and includes a diskette with programs that can encrypt/decrypt messages using the systems that are described in the book. Volumes II and III, each accompanied with a diskette, are now also available. I enjoyed the books very much. The books read smoothly and are very informative for people who like to know more about these old systems.

More info can be found on the SCB website.

Toby's cryptopage

Remember Toby? He wrote a series of crypto articles in N&O back in 1998. His page is back online and he has added some interesting stuff from the archives.

He says: « During the winter of 1999-2000 I was granted special access to the archives of the Swedish signal intelligence organization, FRA (Försvarets Radioanstalt, or National Defence Radio Establishment). The documents are an assortment of a plethora of cryptographic WWII material held in the FRA archives, which have had the secrecy lifted on my request. The material studied by me consists mainly of codes used by Soviet forces, but I've also looked at some German codes. All German material has had the secrecy lifted, but some of the Soviet material is still considered too sensitive after more than 56 years, but the released stuff is more than enough. »

Be sure to check it out.