MacBook winner investigates wartime enigma

A few months ago, we ran a competition for a matching black MacBook and USB modem, courtesy of mobile broadband provider Vodafone. Congratulations are due to the winner John Harris, who sent us this photo.

The picture shows John putting the MacBook to interesting use. Here's what he told me in his message:

"It shows me with MacBook and Modem, looking at a scanned photo from 1943 of an action by the German Navy against a Royal Navy Miniature submarine know as an X craft in Kaafjord, North Norway. The story of the X craft exploits appears in 'Above Us the Waves' film and book and many other films, books and documentaries have been made on this subject.

"I have been involved since 1973/4 and have both dived in the fjord and visited many times (and expect to go back again) as there is an enigma surrounding the fate of one of these X craft is still unknown and we believe the photo (taken by a German Officer) I am viewing is the last taken of her. On the table is a manufacturing drawing of the submarine and I am trying to ascertain the nature and extent of damage caused by German shells which eyewitness reports say hit her.

"I communicate regularly with a fellow researcher presently based in Perth Aus., and others in UK, Norway and Germany and although not online in the picture, will be sending my calculations to him."

Fascinating stuff, and all done mainly by people who are doing it because they're passionate about it! So if anyone knows of a sponsor who might be interested in getting involved, drop me a line and I'll put them in touch with the researchers.