From OH/PA dx bulletin # 707 ...

SPECIAL EVENT (Enigma Machine To Be Reactivated After 60 Yrs)......

In September 1939, the radio receivers of all radio amateurs were ordered
to be confiscated, but many amateurs volunteered to become "Voluntary
Interceptors" (V.I.'s) in their own homes. These V.I.'s intercepted
encrypted Enigma messages transmitted in Morse Code which were passed
to the code breakers at Bletchley Park. Accuracy was crucial in order
to assist decoding of the message, but many of the intercepted signals
were weak or fading and atmospheric conditions were often poor with QRM
from loud local stations. Searching through the bands was very painstaking,
but it was a task that was carried out with great skill and dedication,
providing a most valuable service to the Allies. As a tribute to the work
of the V.I.'s sixty years ago, the Scarborough Special Events Group (SSEG)
will be on the air as GB2HQ from GCHQ Scarborough over the weekend of
May 7-8th. A souvenir QSL card showing an Enigma cipher machine and an
HRO receiver will be issued to commemorate the occasion. GCHQ have provided
a working Enigma machine for use by the SSEG and Ofcom and have given
permission for transmission of an enciphered Enigma message to be sent
in Morse Code on the amateur radio bands for this event only. The group
will be active on SSB, PSK and CW. The CW station will operate around
7015 or 3515 KHz and the Enigma message will be transmitted in Morse
Code at 1100z on Saturday, May 7th, at a speed of 15 wpm. The message
will consist of a few five letter groups which will be repeated at 1300
and 1900z. GCHQ invites all licenced amateurs and listeners to submit a
copy of this Enigma message and will award a certificate for a 100%
accurate intercept. A copy of this message should be sent via club call
G0OOO (Scarborough Special Events Group, 9 Green Island, Irton, Scarborough
YO12 4RN) and can be enclosed with a QSL card. The cost of the certificate
is =C2=A33.00 sterling, 5 Euro's, 5 USD, or 6 IRCs. (UK cheques should
be made out to "SSEG"). All profits will be donated to GCHQ Scarborough
Charities Fund. Full details will be published on their Web site at:

http://www.sseg.co.uk

Depending on your location, conditions may not be favorable for reception
on the day. However, in this respect, listeners will be experiencing the
same problems faced by the V.I.'s some sixty years ago. FISTS members are
invited to take part in a practical demonstration of history brought to
life through amateur radio. For more information about the Enigma machine,
please visit the following Web pages:

http://www.codesandciphers.org.uk/enigma/
http://www.enigmahistory.org/enigma.html