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Has World War II carrier pigeon message been cracked?
BBC News ^ | 16th December 2012 | Anna Browning

Posted on 12/16/2012 3:09:22 PM PST by the scotsman

'An encrypted World War II message found in a fire place strapped to the remains of a dead carrier pigeon may have been cracked by a Canadian enthusiast.

Gord Young, from Peterborough, in Ontario, says it took him 17 minutes to decypher the message after realising a code book he inherited was the key. Mr Young says the 1944 note uses a simple World War I code to detail German troop positions in Normandy.

GCHQ says it would be interested to see his findings.

The message was discovered by 74-year-old David Martin when he was renovating the chimney of his house in Bletchingley, Surrey.

Among the rubbish, he found parts of a dead pigeon - including a leg, attached to which was a red canister. Inside the canister was a thin piece of paper with the words "Pigeon Service" at the top and 27 handwritten blocks of code.

The message - which attracted world-wide media attention - was put in the hands of Britain's top codebreakers at GCHQ at the beginning of November, but they have been unable to unlock the puzzle.'

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 12/16/2012 3:09:25 PM PST by the scotsman
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To: the scotsman

“Be sure to drink your Ovaltine.”


2 posted on 12/16/2012 3:15:17 PM PST by Huskrrrr
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To: the scotsman

Thank you for posting this. I found this story so interesting.

However, even with the ‘code’ spelled out for me, I don’t really follow it too easily, duh.


3 posted on 12/16/2012 3:16:57 PM PST by Beowulf9
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To: the scotsman

“And so I was like ...” “And then she was, like, ...” “And then, like, I was so totally like ...”


4 posted on 12/16/2012 3:17:35 PM PST by coloradan (The US has become a banana republic, except without the bananas - or the republic.)
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To: the scotsman

“Warning. US government infiltrated at highest level by Soviets. Suspect Roosevelt and Hiss.”


5 posted on 12/16/2012 3:19:17 PM PST by GenXteacher (You have chosen dishonor to avoid war; you shall have war also.)
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To: the scotsman

6 posted on 12/16/2012 3:20:12 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: the scotsman

“Potatoes do sometimes make vines; turnips remain passive: cause unnecessary to state. Inform the poor widow her lad’s efforts will be vain. But diet, bathing, etc. etc., followed uniformly, will wean him from his folly—so fear not.”


7 posted on 12/16/2012 3:27:11 PM PST by niteowl77 (Oh, crap.)
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To: Huskrrrr

Send more pigeon feed.


8 posted on 12/16/2012 3:38:57 PM PST by boomop1 (term limits will only save this country.)
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To: Huskrrrr

LOL!


9 posted on 12/16/2012 3:40:07 PM PST by bikerman (What ever happens from now is all OBAMA's fault. Obama lied,economy died)
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To: the scotsman

“I pooped in your corn flakes.”


10 posted on 12/16/2012 3:40:10 PM PST by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: boomop1

Ha!


11 posted on 12/16/2012 3:41:40 PM PST by Huskrrrr
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To: the scotsman

“Can I has more pigeon foodz?”


12 posted on 12/16/2012 3:42:18 PM PST by VanDeKoik
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To: the scotsman

I love how the message writer called the enemy “Jerry.” Fantastic! Its so Blackadder and Hogan’s Heros!!


13 posted on 12/16/2012 3:43:56 PM PST by PGR88
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To: Huskrrrr

Hahahaha!


14 posted on 12/16/2012 3:47:19 PM PST by backtobasics
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Comment #15 Removed by Moderator

To: the scotsman

Here’s the message.

“This is Horace. He is a stupid pigeon. He flies into chimneys. Bon appetit!”


16 posted on 12/16/2012 4:12:14 PM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: F15Eagle
Now translate the secret code:

Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wooden shoe?

Modern refrain: Bronco Bama

17 posted on 12/16/2012 4:22:04 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: the scotsman

What’s the damn message?


18 posted on 12/16/2012 4:25:17 PM PST by gotribe
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To: gotribe

Drink more Ovaltine....


19 posted on 12/16/2012 4:37:52 PM PST by JouleZ (You are the company you keep.)
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To: the scotsman
it took him 17 minutes to decypher the message

So what did the D'm message say?????

20 posted on 12/16/2012 4:41:00 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (Jab her with a harpoon.....)
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