David Balme will be forever known as the 20-year-old hero who, on 9 May 1941, boarded a German U-boat in mid-Atlantic, and captured one of the greatest secrets of the Second World War. This capture - or 'pinch' as it was known within secret, inner circles - changed the course of the Battle of the Atlantic and shortened the war itself. Balme was part of a team comprising officers and men of the Third Escort Group ably led by Commander Joe Baker Cresswell, also commander of HMS Bulldog, who shared the danger with other unsung ...
Read More
David Balme will be forever known as the 20-year-old hero who, on 9 May 1941, boarded a German U-boat in mid-Atlantic, and captured one of the greatest secrets of the Second World War. This capture - or 'pinch' as it was known within secret, inner circles - changed the course of the Battle of the Atlantic and shortened the war itself. Balme was part of a team comprising officers and men of the Third Escort Group ably led by Commander Joe Baker Cresswell, also commander of HMS Bulldog, who shared the danger with other unsung heroes such as Lieutenant Commander George Dodds. Balme was tasked with taking the Bulldog's whaler and a small party to board the U-boat U-110 which had been disabled. However he was alone when initially boarding, entering and searching the U-boat. This put him in a vulnerable position while descending into the vessel - he risked being shot by any German submariner that may have remained or blown-up by a booby-trap device. Furthermore he could have drowned when Bulldog disappeared into the mists of the Atlantic to hunt another U-boat, as U-110 could have plummeted into the depths at any time.However, where others tried and failed or tragically lost their lives, Balme and his boarding party succeeded magnificently in capturing an entire Enigma machine, the essential rotors and months' worth of associated cipher material. This was an absolute gift to the code breakers at Bletchley Park who were able to read all the secret German naval signal traffic for some months and it enabled them to read virtually the whole of the traffic for the rest of the war and with little delay. The capture was kept so secret that few even on the British side knew about it - not even the Americans were told what had been achieved after they entered the war. Balme returned from the war and never spoke about the secret capture which he believed would be hidden forever. The story of the capture and ransack of U-110 is told for the first time in the words and letters of David Balme, his captain Joe Baker Cresswell, George Dodds and others who took part in the most important submarine capture of the whole war.Besides the capture of U-110, Balme enjoyed an astonishing variety of wartime experience including the Spanish Civil War, the Palestine Patrol, the sinking of HMS Courageous, the Battle of Convoy KJF3, the fight with the heavy cruiser Hipper, the Battle of Cape Spartivento, the Battle of Convoy OB318, being sunk during Operation Harpoon, the air war in the Western Desert, the high level diplomacy of Prime Minister Winston Churchill and pioneering work as a Fighter Direction Officer in the war against Japan.
Read Less
Add this copy of Enigma: the Untold Story of the Secret Capture to cart. $11.59, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2016 by Whittles.
Add this copy of Enigma: the Untold Story of the Secret Format: to cart. $14.96, new condition, Sold by Websew Inc rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Avenel, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 2016 by Whittles Publishing.
Add this copy of Enigma the Untold Story of the Secret Capture 3 the to cart. $22.26, new condition, Sold by Paperbackshop rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Bensenville, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2016 by Whittles Publishing.
Add this copy of Enigma: The Untold Story of the Secret Capture to cart. $33.45, new condition, Sold by Booksplease rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Southport, MERSEYSIDE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2016 by Whittles Publishing.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. 144 p. The British Navy at War and Peace , 3. 6 black & white illustrations, 40 black & white halftones; 6 black & white illustrations, 40 black & white halftones.
Add this copy of Enigma: the Untold Story of the Secret Capture to cart. $33.61, new condition, Sold by Revaluation Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Exeter, DEVON, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2017 by Whittles Pub.
Add this copy of Enigma: the Untold Story of the Secret Capture (the to cart. $38.31, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2017 by Whittles Publishing.
Add this copy of Enigma: the Untold Story of the Secret Capture (the to cart. $54.01, new condition, Sold by Kennys.ie rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Galway, IRELAND, published 2016 by Whittles Publishing.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. The amazing true story of the capture of Enigma that helped shorten the war. A true and gripping story of incredible bravery. A remarkable wartime career and full life. Series Editor(s): Hore, Peter. Series: The British Navy at War and Peace. Num Pages: 176 pages, c.30 b/w illustrations. BIC Classification: 1DBK; 3JJH; BGHA; HBJD1; HBWQ; JWF. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 145 x 352 x 18. Weight in Grams: 404. 2016. Hardcover.....We ship daily from our Bookshop.
Add this copy of Enigma: the Untold Story of the Secret Capture (the to cart. $68.89, new condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2017 by Whittles Publishing.
