A Turing Enigma

Randell, B

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-32940-1_3

A Turing Enigma

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Brian Randell ORCiD

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Abstract

I describe my investigations into the highly-secret role that Alan Tur- ing played during World War II, after his pre-war theoretical work on computabil- ity and the concept of a universal machine, in the development of the world’s first electronic computers. These investigations resulted in my obtaining and publish- ing, in 1972, some limited information about Turing’s contributions to the work on code-breaking machines at Bletchley Park, the fore-runner of the UK Gov- ernment Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). Some years later I was able to obtain permission to compile and publish the first officially-authorised account of the work, led by T.H. (Tommy) Flowers at the Post Office Dollis Hill Research Station, on the construction of a series of special purpose electronic computers for Bletchley Park, computers that made a vital contribution to the Allied war effort.