Summary: The life of the British physicist Frederick A Lindemann (later Viscount Charwell) is traced and certain aspects assessed; the "enigma" of the title is whether Lindemann did most to win the war or nearly lost it; authentic film, stills and filmed interviews are used.
Description: His background, life as a student and an outstanding physicist. Sir George Thomson remembers him at Farnborough 1914-1918; "the spin" - his theories and tests. Difficulties in settling down at Clarendon laboratory, unpopularity at Oxford, his character and association with the Churchills is discussed by Sir Roy Harrod, Professor Nicholas Kurti and James Harvey. Feud with Tizard on Air Defence Committee; the development of radar; testing new weapons as personal scientific adviser to the PM; influence with Churchill; development of H2S radar device and its capture by Germany. "Terror" bombing - Dr Noble Frankland and Colonel S Roskill express opposite views. Lindemann's scepticism about V2. The Atomic Energy Authority, last years and death of a man "more of an enigma in human relations".
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:
Object_Number:MYY 25
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:NON-IWM
Featured Period:All Periods
Production Date:1968-09-12
Production Country: GB
Production Details: BBC Television (Production company)
Goodchild, Peter (Production individual)
Chataway, Christopher (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords:
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 1470 ft; Running time: 45 mins
