The AM Forum

Probably one of the best documentaries on the US efforts to break codes during war time. The story of one women whose hobby turned into a Top Secret career that she took to her grave. Highly recommend you check it out.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/codebreaker/?fbclid=IwAR04RZ2nk-Bo3vL3u9ZXinLIysxLkTcmsOQRiaU7LuVMPuDg4BzBc62s3qY#part01

Forgot to mention, there are several short bursts of CW that were edited into this documentary. One was someone calling CQ. I bet a ham assisted them and there might be some hides messages embedded!  I remember back in the 70s there was a movie in which the depicted message said, “Can you hams copy this?” Gotta dig out my audio filter and try to decipher it.

A story most don't know. However, the documentary seems to indicate she broke Enigma and on the basis of a mere 28 messages. Based on the story of Turing and the Brits (building of the work of the Poles), this could not be true.

It's not strictly a documentary. Creators take artistic license as a way to limit the scope to what is practical or highlight a subject while not leaving things hanging. I enjoyed it and I always keep in mind that facts can be checked and that stories are entertaining.

The part about the FBI director J Edgar Hoover taking the credit for Elizabeth Smith Friedman's work and scrubbing her name from his reports reflects a real-life situation that still occurs today at all levels. There was no mention as to why this was done, whether a matter of secrecy or self-promotion.

I believe the TV show was mostly based on the book
"The Woman Who Smashed Codes" by Jason Fagone
which is an interesting read.
Nick