I havent decided how in depth I will get on the radio deception aspects of cryptology but I definitely will think about including a segment on sender “fists” and their significance to Japanese deception. I’m limited to around 50 pages so I need to be careful how I put things together, not to mention that I still have to figure out how to fit my research in with my work and family schedule (which is why I’m already starting on it now even though the class doesn’t even start until mid January).
As to Wainwright, one thing is for certain, he was a good soldier. It was not his place to criticize his commanding officer and I don’t think it was in his nature to do so even down the road when he was no longer under him. Who knows, if he had been in MacArthur’s shoes he might have made the same bad decisions MacArthur did. That’s hard to speculate on since Wainwright was dealt a real bad hand having to suddenly take over a collapsing defense as MacArthur scurried off to Australia (by FDR’s orders). We only got a very brief look at this command and decision making ability and it was under the worst possible circumstances.
I imagine you should be able to make your essential point about an operators fist being readily recognizable and what that entails from a SIGINT standpoint in less than a double spaced 12point page.
Basically, regardless of whether a transmission is coded or not, an experienced listener can recognize different morse operators and the conditions upon which they made a transmission; normal or abnormal. Abnormal could of course mean the operator was tired, ill, or under stress/duress.
Radio direction finding techniques can determine the location of a transmitter. That an operators "fist" can be recognized means location of the operator can also be determined. If the operator has moved, he may have been transferred, or his unit moved with him.
Machine transmissions tended to be at higher rates and I'm not sure to what extent a listener could tell differences between machines but I will ask a friend who has a good bit of knowledge in this area and get back to you on it.
As to Wainwright, one thing is for certain, he was a good soldier. It was not his place to criticize his commanding officer and I don’t think it was in his nature to do so even down the road when he was no longer under him.
Who knows, if he had been in MacArthur’s shoes he might have made the same bad decisions MacArthur did.
In addition to the other items I have promised a response to, I will respond to that comment directly. The only reason I don't respond right now is because I'm waiting to hear something from Freeper GreenLightlantern who seems to be a real MacArthur hater. If after some reasonable period of time GreenLight hasn't replied, I will post to both of you.