IMAGES COURTESY NSA/DOD/US NAVY/US ARMY
SECRET SERVICES
A
lthough ‘codemaking’ and ‘breaking’ date back thousands of years, modern cryptologic communications intelligence activities in the United States started in Word War I with radio communications technology. In 1917, the US Army established the Cipher Bureau (MI-8) within its Military Intelligence Division (MID), under Herbert Yardley. The MID assisted the radio intelligence units in the American Expeditionary Forces fighting in Europe and in 1918, created the Radio Intelligence Service for operations along the US-Mexican border. THE BLACK CHAMBER General Pershing took his mobile intercept vehicles, known as mobile tractors, to listen to radio messages sent by the Mexican Government. The US Navy had also created a unit, but this was absorbed
radio direction finding and processing capabilities prior to WWII; the organisations achieved particular success against Japanese diplomatic communications. In 1930, a new Secretary of State, Henry Stimson, withdrew funding for MI-8. Thereafter, Yardley, no longer in service, wrote a revealing book, The American Black Chamber, which publicised MI-8’s achievements. Among other things, it prompted foreign governments to search for and adopt new encryption methods.
(by agreement), in 1918, into Yardley’s civilian ‘Black Chamber.’ The US military and State Department continued to support the ‘Black Chamber’ until it was terminated in 1929.
Laurance F. Safford
SIGNAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
Origins NSA
The Army’s role was assumed in the small Signal Intelligence Service (SIS) of the Army’s Signal Corps under the watchful eye of William F. Friedman. The US Navy’s cryptanalytic role was reborn formally in 1924 in the ‘Research Desk’ under Commander Laurance F. Safford, within the Office of Naval Communications. Much emphasis was placed on securing US military communications (COMSEC), but both services developed radio intercept,
After Yardley’s ‘Black Chamber’ closed, the Army looked to Friedman’s SIS to manufacture and break codes. Possibly the best cryptologist of his time, Friedman became known as the ‘father of modern Army cryptology.’ Friedman also played a part in the incarceration of ‘rumrunners’ during America’s prohibition period. Britain and American successes during WWII proved the value of communications intelligence (COMINT). Politicians and military strategists in the United
William F. Friedman at work in his office
States and Britain recognised the need to expand the organisations in terms of manpower, resources and equipment. The US and UK started to cooperate in the sharing of scientific and technical information. Friedman’s SIS provided details of its successes against the Japanese, while Britain revealed details of the breaking of the German military messages enciphered on the ENIGMA machines. Eventually, US cryptologists were integrated into the UK operation based at Bletchley Park.
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General Pershing
In 2002, the National Security Agency turned 50. Eye Spy presents a fascinating overview of how the world’s most secret organisation came into being...
Herbert Yardley
WWII naval research buildings at Bletchley Park, England
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