Most Secret: The Hidden History of Orford Ness

Reveals the history of Britain's most hidden research and testing site for the military

Orford Ness is so secret a place that most people have never even heard of it. Yet, the role it played in inventing and testing weapons over the course of the 20th century was far more significant and much longer than that of Bletchley Park. Nestled on a remote part of the Suffolk coast, Orford Ness operated for more than 80 years as a highly classified research and testing site for the British military, the Atomic Research Establishment, and, at one point, even the U.S. Department of Defense. The work conducted here by some of the greatest "boffins" of past generations played a crucial role in winning the three great wars of the 20th century: the First, Second, and the Cold. This book reveals an incredible history, rich with ingenuity and intrigue, and has been updated to include details on "Cobra Mist"—the joint UK and U.S. radar project to spy on the Soviets. New material on this subject includes recently declassified archives.