WWII code 'may never be cracked'

Experts at intelligence agency GCHQ have asked for help in de-coding a message found attached to a pigeon leg, thought to date back to WWII.

The dead bird was found in a chimney in Surrey a few weeks ago.

But without more information, the code may never be cracked, according to the BBC's security correspondent Gordon Corera.

The code is as follows:

AOAKN HVPKD FNFJU YIDDC

RQXSR DJHFP GOVFN MIAPX

PABUZ WYYNP CMPNW HJRZH

NLXKG MEMKK ONOIB AKEEQ

UAOTA RBQRH DJOFM TPZEH

LKXGH RGGHT JRZCQ FNKTQ

KLDTS GQIRU AOAKN 27 1525/6

The original transcription of this code was provided by GCHQ who have now corrected it. The code reproduced here was amended on 30 November 2012 to reflect this.

  • UK