The Secret War - The Battle of the Beams - Part One

[Matt68385]

Anyone know why Prof. R.V. Jones wore two watches?

[aptsarchive]

@Matt68385 Have often wondered that myself!

[wiffybiffy]

@aptsarchive I asked that question years ago when I saw this show on TV. We wrote to the BBC, they had no idea and then we wrote to Prof R.V. Jones. He was unwilling at first to explain. However, when we sent him a picture, he explained, and I quote " When the BBC came to film me in my office, I was deciding which watch I would have as a Christmas present from a friend Bob. In the end I chose the water proof anti dust watch, which I still own".

He also sent us a photo of his shed.

[wiffybiffy]

Then, a few years ago we were told that Prof Jones had died and the shed was to be demolished to make room for a recycle bin. Under the floorboards, in the area where the work bench used to be they found a huge model o f George Formby. Thiswas a planned shape for a missileto be launched at the enemy during wwII.

[Doodle1Bean]

@Matt68385  Yes! One is not a watch, but is a Dick Tracy-type communicator. Constant vigilance is essential!!

[ringfinder1962]

one of the best ww11 tecno programes ever made , they should digitally remaster it.

[aptsarchive]

@ringfinder1962 Indeed it should remastered - not just this episode, but the whole series.

[bmgm3]

Thanks for uploading this. Just finished reading Jones book - Most Secret War - and can say it is simply not just one of the best war books, but one of the best books ever put to paper. R.V Jones deserves to be far better known for his work than he currently is.

[aptsarchive]

@bmgm3 Glad you enjoyed the upload & agree RV Jones's part in the war should be far better known that it is.

[TrueSkeptic77]

What is he talking about? The germans lead the way in technology on the most fronts. What the allies was good in, was to produce and produce some more.

[mycroft1905]

simply the best documentary series I have ever seen - now an important historical document as it includes interviews with participants and eye-witnesses now long deceased - my highlight is when William Woollard appears in the glasshouse nose of a Heinkel 111 talking about secret radio installations in 'Battle of the Beams' - imagine my delight when I found the entire series on old VHS tapes in a university library

[g7hug]

fantastis .here near spalding often we can here amateur radio repeaters on 29mhz.thank you for posting this

[edouard67]

Thanks for posting this excellent documentary, I wish BBC would release it on a DVD..