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Ian Fleming's Operation Ruthless

Description: During the Second World War Ian Fleming served as a Commander in the Royal Navy as assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence, Rear Admiral John Godfrey. This document outlines Fleming's plan to capture German Engima codebooks which he dubbed 'Operation Ruthless'.

 

Fleming's name for the operation and his description of the man needed as a "tough batchelor" can't help but recall his later creation of James Bond. The document, prepared after the war as a summary of the activities of Naval Intelligence, suggests Fleming volunteered himself for the mission.

 

Date: c.1946

 

Our Catalogue Reference: ADM 223/463 p38

 

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Uploaded on October 16, 2009
Taken on December 15, 2007