BBC:
The World In A Briefcase
In the summer of 1940, the war with Germany was at a critical stage.
France had recently surrendered and the Luftwaffe was engaged in a concerted bombing campaign against British cities.
The United Kingdom was being cut off from the Continent, and without allies to help her, she would soon be near the limit of her productive capacity - particularly in the all important field of electronics.
On the morning of 29 August, a small team of the country's top scientists and engineers, under the direction of Sir Henry Tizard and in conditions of absolute secrecy, was about to board a converted ocean liner.
With them they carried possibly the most precious cargo of the war - a black japanned metal deed box containing all of Britain's most valuable technological secrets.
They were on their way to America - to all but give them away.
This high-powered team included representatives from the Army, Navy and Air Force, along with specialists in the new technologies of war.