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From: Steve.Bridges@Dayton.NCR.COM (Steve Bridges)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Enigma, ULTRA and history
Message-ID: <1990Oct16.010911.11102@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 16 Oct 90 01:09:11 GMT
References: <1990Oct11.050958.29611@cbnews.att.com>
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From: Steve.Bridges@Dayton.NCR.COM (Steve Bridges)


A little more bit of history about Allied efforts to build Enigma deciphers.

NCR, during WWII built a parallel processor version, with 16 (I believe)
"processors" that could work on the same message with 16 different keys. 

It was built in the same building where I now work (then called
Building 26, now called USG).

The machine was built by NCR employees, but operated by the U.S. Navy
in Building 26.  The site was secured by Marines, and the operators were
bused from NCR's sales educational facility (where sales people were
trained before the war) to Building 26 each day.

A whole bunch were built, but the entire program was classified until
a couple of years ago.  All were destroyed but one.

When the Smithsonian opened it's Information Age exhibit, NCR donated
the remaining example (called the Bombe) to the exhibit.

In addition, there is a mystery building at NCR called Building 32.  It
is hidden back in the employee's park (called "Old River").  There
are signs around it that say "Danger -- Explosives"), and there
are some nearby bomb shelters.

I checked with our historical department, and they don't (or won't) tell
me what the building was used for.

I have my own theory.  Back in the 40's, NCR was a leader in development
of electro-mechanical devices, plus it's own proximaty to Wright-Patterson,
is that NCR did development work on the series of guided bombs known as
Razon and Tarzon (for radio guided and Television Guided).

In addition, NCR received an "E" flag from the War department for
manufacturing excellence during the war, and that flag is on
display at the Air Force Museum.

-- 
Steve Bridges                    | NCR - USG Product Marketing and Support OLS
Steve.Bridges@Dayton.NCR.COM     | Phone:(513)-445-4182 622-4182 (Voice Plus)
..!ncrlnk!usglnk!uspm650!steve   | AOPA #916233
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