Aspidistra was a British mediumwave radio transmitter used for black propaganda and military deception purposes against Nazi Germany during World War II. At one time, it was the most powerful broadcast transmitter in the world.

Roger Long

At Bush Control Room we had links to the mysterious Aspidistra TX.

This turned out to be a monster 600KW AM sender built in the states by RCA and GE and bought by HMG in 1942 for £165,000.

This was used for many things during the war, impersonating German Night Fighter control, Black propaganda and intrusion techniques to cause mayhem and confusion during air raids.

I remember a David Hare play “Licking Hitler” which covered a little of this Ultra Black Warfare, exceptionally creepy.

After the war the Aspidistra TX was used by External Broadcasting and Bush House.  

During Ian Smith’s Declaration of Independence the TX was shipped to Mozambique(?) and specially-made Bush programmes were beamed into rebel Rhodesia by Bush SMs on temporary site. Later the Sender returned to the UK and was used to jam Pirate Radio in the North Sea after the Marine Offences Bill was pushed through (by Tony Benn!) to defeat Radio London and Caroline.

Fascinating stuff, always guarded closely by the TOM.