[R-390] NON-A Truth Revealed (was Hi)

Fri, 6 Jun 2003 19:57:38 -0400

Barry,

Good!

Jim

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barry Hauser" <[email protected]>
To: "Barry Hauser" <[email protected]>; "Jim Simmons"
<[email protected]>; "Gene Beckwith" <[email protected]>; "Cecil Acuff"
<[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, June 06, 2003 7:43 PM
Subject: Re: [R-390] NON-A Truth Revealed (was Hi)

> OK, OK, my previous post was a bit of a crock.  I only just now got
> clearance to reveal the truth.  "Non-A" is in point of fact, the accurate,
> official designation for the original "R-390".  An NSA memo, previously
> labeled "Top Secret" has just been declassified to the point where I am
> permitted to reveal some of its contents.
>
> Back in the late 50's, a encoding/decoding device which I'll refer to as
the
> Clyde-Bedeiter-Box was developed which went between receiver and teletype
> machine.  Initially these were deployed by NSA to decode secret messages
> paired up with R-390A's at the receiving end.  However, there was a
problem.
> The IF module with the mechanical filters rang and caused extra letters to
> be inserted in the decoded text.  As it turns out, the stray letters
almost
> always inserted were "A's".  This caused confusion in the interpretation
of
> the messages.  Someone had an idea -- try the original R-390 with L/C
> filters.  It worked.  At that time, NSA officially designated the original
> design as the "Non-A".  The double entendre was entirely intentional.
After
> all, the R-390(blank) was effective in removing the extra "A's".  This is
> also the reason for the appearance of some modified R-390A's with the
non-A
> IF deck fitted in.  They did not want to draw too much attention to
calling
> too many "Non-A's" from the field.  Some hybrids were given an entirely
new
> number.
>
> Meanwhile, unbeknownst to NSA and CIA, the Soviets had replicated the
> Clyde-Bedeiter-Box (CBB) and also the R-390A by the very early 60's.
> Naturally, they chose to duplicate the later version of the receiver and
> could not afford to make up any of the original more expensive design.
When
> they intercepted US coded messages they were confused and distracted.
Some
> KGBers thought there was something to the pattern of "A's" -- the content
of
> the real message.  In some cases, they assumed the transmissions came from
> the Italian embassy.  (think about it).
>
> This was of crucial importance at several points in cold war history,
> particularly during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  Hence, it is also a known
> fact that the original, officially (though secretly) designated NON-A
saved
> the world from thermonuclear demise.
>
> Print this email out on rice paper and be sure to chew well before
> swallowing, just in case the memo gets reclassified and I disappear.
>
> Barry
> (w/Nomex suit, flak jacket, deep in bunker)
>
>
>
>
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