The Secret in Building 26

by Jim DeBrosse

  The meeting at OP20G NSA FOIA, RAM File, November 5, 1941, Memorandum for OP-20-A, “Report of Conference,” re ‘Professor Howard’; NSA FOIA, RAM File, OP-20-G, ‘Meeting with Howard 11-3-41’; NARA RG 457, Box 108/9, SRH 355, “Naval Security Group History to World War II,” also copy in U.S. Naval Historical Center Operational Archives.

  The only hope Ibid., pp. 279–82.

  The three MIT students NARA RG 457, Box 77, SRH 197, “U.S. Navy Communications Intelligence Organization 1941–5.”

  They had scoured Burke, Information and Secrecy, p. 224.

  Engstrom had the perfect Engstrom self-interview; NARA RG 457, Box 108/9, SRH 355, “Naval Security Group History to World War II.”

  He had returned to Yale NARA RG 457, Box 108/9, SRH 355, “Naval Security Group History to World War II,” p. 330.

  Another of the more senior Ely biographical data from Princeton University Alumni Center and Archives, Princeton, N.J.

  Not present at Information on Wenger’s background, career, and health was gained from “Rear Admiral Joseph N. Wenger, United States Navy Retired, Navy Biographies Branch,” Naval Historical Center, Washington, D.C.; interviews and discussions with Joseph Eachus, George M. Robb, and Jeffery Wenger.

  He and Stanford Burke, Information and Secrecy, p. 10.

  He became the driving Ibid., p. 61.

  Even at Annapolis Naval Security Group Command Display.

  “He was all business George M. Robb interview, August 2002.

  “made everybody he Joe Eachus interview, August 9, 2002.

  Bush was not only Zachary, Endless Frontier; Burke, Information and Secrecy, chap. 2.

  In 1935, as Hooper Burke, Information and Secrecy, p. 68.

  At the 1925 International Buckland, “Emanuel Goldberg, Electronic Document Retrieval, and Vannevar Bush’s Memex,” pp. 284ff.

  The friendship between Burke, Information and Secrecy, chap. 4.

  By the end of Knepper, Ohio and Its People, p. 286.

  Deeds and Kettering were familiar U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission website, www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Aerospace/WWi/Aero5.htm.

  As a member of Leslie, Boss Kettering; Marcosson, Colonel Deeds.

  In a classic Bush, Pieces of the Action, p. 30.

  His experience included Burke, Information and Secrecy, p. 96.

  He hoped Ibid., p. 153.

  By this time, Driscoll NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Boxes 104, 130, OP20G War Diaries, October 1941 and January 1942.

  Some two weeks after NSA FOIA, RAM File, November 5, 1941, Memorandum for OP-20-A, “Report of Conference,” re ‘Professor Howard’; NSA FOIA, RAM File, OP-20-G, ‘Meeting with Howard 11-3-41,’ and OP20G ‘to Howard,’ November 14, 1941. The late 1941 critique of Driscoll’s method by Alan Turing may have played a significant role: NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 104; also Box 117, 5720/205, ‘Turing Critique of Driscoll Methods.’

  Three separate attempts Ibid., chap. 7.

  Wenger’s belief Burke, Information and Secrecy, p. 220.

  In early 1942 NSA FOIA, RAM File, “Establishment of OP-20-G GM research section”; NARA RG 457, Box 77, SRH 197, “U.S. Navy Communications Intelligence Organization 1941–5”; NSA FOIA, RIP 425, OP-20-G, “American Attack on German Naval Ciphers,” provided by Ralph Erskine; NARA RG 457, HCC, Box 169, RIP 403, April 24, 1942, ‘Questions Handed to Colonel Tiltman.’

  Wenger asked Engstrom’s Ibid.

  On top of the U-boat Burke, Information and Secrecy, p. 275; NSA FOIA, RAM File, ‘To the President March 17, 1943’; NARA RG 457, Box 110, SRH 361, “History of the Signal Security Agency,” vol. 2, p. 260; NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 183, Bombe Correspondence, ‘April 1942, Tiltman to Travis.’

  Britain again rushed PRO HW 14/46, ‘Tiltman Report’; PRO 14/16, February 5, 1942, ‘Denniston on U.S. and Enigma’; NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 110, 5750/147, “Administrative History of World War II: Cryptologic Research Section,” April 15, 1947.

  And while the American NARA RG 457, SRH391, Box 114, ‘U.S. Cryptologic History, American Signals Intelligence in Northwest Africa and Western Europe’; NSA FOIA (George Howe) ‘U.S. Cryptologic History, American Signals Intelligence in Northwest Africa and Western Europe,’ Ft. Meade, n.d.

  In a memo to NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 183, 5750/441, “Bombe Correspondence Reel 141394, Correspondence on IC Machines,” memorandum to John H. Howard by Robert B. Ely, April 25, 1942, ‘Future IC machine and planned U.S. Bombe’; NSA FOIA, RAM File, August 5, 1942, ‘Wenger to Ely.’

  Starting in April NARA RG 38, RIP, Box 169, RIP 403, “Special British Reports on German Cryptography.”

  OP20G wouldn’t even realize Joseph Eachus interview and correspondence; RG 457, HCC, Box 705, NR4384 and NR5484, April 24, 1944, “History of the Bombe Project.”

  Even as late as mid-1942 NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 183, Bombe Correspondence; NSA FOIA, RAM File, September 4, 1942, Wenger to Eachus, ‘Electronics infeasible will pattern our Bombe on British’; NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 117, 5750/205, July 12, 1942, to OP—“Easy Research to Date.”

  OP20G informed the British NSA FOIA, RAM File, Wenger to GCCS, August 5, 1942.

  In the midst of Debbie Desch Anderson interviews, January 2002; Jack Kern interview.

  Then, in early July NSA FOIA, RAM File, Ralph Meader, Report to J. N. Wenger, Part 2, “Resume of the Dayton, Ohio, Activity During World War II.”

  But it was a “mustang” Parker, “How OP-20-G Got Rid of Joe Rochefort,” pp. 212ff.; Kahn, Codebreakers, p. 569.

  5. A Giant Leap . . . and a Step Backward

  a totally electronic NARA RG 38, RIP, Box 171, RIP 607, A. Clifford, “The American Hot Point Method.”

  “you had to light Jack Kern interview.

  Desch’s tubes had been Final OSRD Report, Div. 17, Beggs and Youst, “Development and Application of Electronic Counting Circuits, 1946,” esp. chap. 6, Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, Del., ACC 1825, Honeywell v. Sperry Rand, Trial Records, Desch deposition.

  Wright and Desch were Debbie Desch Anderson interviews, January 2002.

  Wenger, Engstrom, and NSA FOIA, RAM File, Wenger to Eachus, September 4, 1942, ‘Electronics infeasible will pattern our Bombe on British.’

  How Desch felt Debbie Desch Anderson interviews, November 2000.

  After graduating Parrish, Ultra Americans, p. 155.

  “As a matter of fact Joseph Eachus interview, February 2002.

  One of the first vital NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 113, 5750/177, “Cold Spot Method, Short Row Test, New Bombe”; NSA FOIA, RIP 425, “The American Attack on the German Naval Ciphers,” CNO, October 1944; NSA FOIA, RAM File, Ely-Eachus to OP20G, July 16, 1942.

  Blueprints for the four-wheel NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 183, 5750/441, Bombe Correspondence, GCCS to Engstrom September 23, 1942; NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 183, 5750/441, Bombe Correspondence, ‘From London, July 27, 1942,’ CXG 550, Following from TRAVIS, ‘Drawings on way,’ and August 2, 1942, Eachus/Ely, ‘full wiring diagram on way.’

  By mid-September, Desch NARA RG 38, Box 183, 5750/441, Bombe Correspondence, Joseph Desch, “Memo of Present Plan for an Electromechanical Analytical Machine, September 14, 1942.”

  But such a Bombe NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 183, 5750/441, OP20G, “Cryptanalysis of the German Cipher Machine, September 3, 1942”; NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 11, 3200/54, file 2 of 3, October 1942, Desch to Meader, ‘Maintenance Crew for Bombes.’

  OP20G was desperate NSA FOIA, RAM File, Ralph Meader, Report to J. N. Wenger, Part 2, “Resume of the Dayton, Ohio, Activity During World War II”; NSA FOIA, RAM File, Director of Naval Communications to Vice Chief of Naval Operations, March 17, 1943, ‘Navy Contract Nxs7892.’

  He granted it NSA FOIA, RAM File, March 17, 1943, ‘in from the President, give Nxs 7892 highest possible preference rating,’ also in NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 183, 5750/441, Bombe Co
rrespondence.

  At times, OP20G had Burke, Information and Secrecy, p. 290.

  Only if your name Jack Kern interview.

  “Hey, do you have Carmelita Bruce interview.

  The end result NSA FOIA, RAM File, Report of R. I. Meader, Captain USNR to J. N. Wenger, Captain USN, “14 Days Training Duty, Report of,” January 21, 1949, parts 1–3.

  In mid-1942, when Deeds Ibid.; NSA FOIA, RAM File, Admiral Newton to Deeds, ca. December 28, 1942, ‘NXS7892 Needs Highest Priority at NCR.’

  Although over forty Bruce Meader interview; Tompkins, Engineering Research Associates, biographical sections.

  She kept her show-business Bruce Meader interview.

  “The sailors were Jack Kern interview.

  Once NCML and Meader NSA FOIA, RAM File, Horn to Robinson, December 11, 1942, and CNO to Deeds, December 28, 1942.

  Meader, to his credit NSA FOIA, RAM File, R. I. Meader, Captain USNR to J. N. Wenger, Captain USN, “14 Days Training Duty, Report of,” January 21, 1949, parts 1–3.

  That approach soon ended NSA FOIA, RAM File, Deeds to Admiral Newton, January 7, 1943, ‘NCR Giving Highest Priority to NXS 7892’; R. I. Meader, Captain USNR to J. N. Wenger, Captain USN, “14 Days Training Duty, Report of,” January 21, 1949; NSA FOIA, RAM File, Admiral Newton to Deeds, ca. December 28, 1942, ‘NXS7892 Needs Highest Priority at NCR’; NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 109, 5750/116, various on relations with NCR and OP20G and funds to NCR.

  “I had a habit Lou Sandor interviews.

  One NCR engineer Carmelita Bruce interview.

  “not to disclose “Pledge of Secrecy,” signed by Joseph R. Desch, March 31, 1941, supplied by Debbie Desch Anderson.

  In May 1942, he spent Debbie Desch Anderson interviews, November 2000.

  “You could see Jack Kern interview.

  Desch’s mother, Augusta Debbie Desch Anderson interviews, November 2000; Desch family records.

  Unable to explain Debbie Desch Anderson interviews, November 2000.

  Meader “practically slept Debbie Desch Anderson interviews, November 2000; Robert Mumma interview, November 2000.

  “We were losing Robert Mumma interview, November 2000.

  The design for the pilot NSA FOIA, RAM File, From OP20G to Meader, January 20, 1943, ‘Desch’s newer Bombes should have one size wheel.’

  6. The Turing Memo

  When Alan Turing NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 183, 5750/441, Bombe Correspondence, ‘Visit to National Cash Register Corporation of Dayton, Ohio,’ December 1942, by Alan Turing.

  The thirty-year-old mastermind Hodges, Alan Turing, pp. 35, 96, 116, 108.

  He had already NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 117, 5720/205, July 7, 1944, “Op-20-GY-A, American Cryptanalysis of German Naval Systems.”

  In November 1942 NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 183, 5740/441, Bombe Correspondence, ‘GCCS to OP20G, November 6, 1942.’

  The British had already Erskine, “What Did the Sinkov Mission Receive from Bletchley Park?” pp. 97ff.; Joseph Eachus interviews.

  GCCS, in fact, asked NSA FOIA, RAM File, from London, December 28, 1942, ‘Following for Wenger from Travis, “Drunken Drive,” etc.’

  Two months before Turing’s Erskine, “Holden Agreement on Naval Sigint,” pp. 187ff.

  Joan Clarke, Turing’s fiancée Debbie Desch Anderson interview, June 2003.

  The memo began NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG, Box 183, 5750/441, Bombe Correspondence, ‘Visit to National Cash Register Corporation of Dayton, Ohio,’ December 1942, by Alan Turing.

  The four OP20G Joseph Eachus interview, August 2002.

  Desch shared Turing’s interests Debbie Desch Anderson interviews, January 2002.

  “These Americans have Hodges, Alan Turing, p. 123.

  There’s no evidence Robert Mumma interview, November 2000.

  “complained of Alan Hodges, Alan Turing, p. 249.

  “ ‘You know at Cambridge Ibid.

  In 1952, the same Ibid., pp. 471, 474.

  By 1943, the war Dalton, Home Sweet Home Front, pp. 32–43, 84.

  Eachus said he Joseph Eachus interview, August 2002.

  Phil Bochicchio, a Navy mechanic Phil Bochicchio interview, January 2001.

  Although Desch left no Joseph Desch and Robert Mumma interview, 1973.

  Turing provided valuable NSA FOIA, RAM File, from London, December 28, 1942, ‘Following for Wenger from Travis’; NSA FOIA, RAM File, Engstrom to Meader, January 5, 1943, ‘re Turing visit and report and need to keep Bombe design flexible.’

  The British, in fact NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 117, 5750/205, July 12, 1942, to OP—“Easy Research to Date”; PRO, HW 14/45, Welchman to Travis, September 12, 1941, ‘on new Bombes.’

  We were given NARA RG38, Crane, CNSG, Box 183, 5750/441, Bombe Correspondence, ‘Visit to National Cash Register Corporation of Dayton, Ohio,’ December 1942, by Alan Turing.

  Engstrom originally had NSA FOIA, RAM File, Engstrom to Desch, September 23, 1942, ‘Your plan for Bombe approved’; NSA FOIA, RAM File, Engstrom to Meader, January 5, 1943, ‘re Turing visit and report and need to keep Bombe design flexible’; NSA FOIA, RAM File, From OP20G to Meader, January 20, 1943, ‘Desch’s newer Bombes should have one size wheel.’

  “smile inwardly NARA RG38, Crane, CNSG, Box 183, 5750/441, Bombe Correspondence, ‘Visit to National Cash Register Corporation of Dayton, Ohio,’ December 1942, by Alan Turing.

  Providing the eleven thousand NSA FOIA, RIP 425, OP-20-G, “American Attack on German Naval Ciphers,” provided by Ralph Erskine.

  “advise Mr. Desch FOIA, RAM File, to Meader, January 20, 1943, ‘Desch’s newer Bombes should have one size wheel.’

  Engstrom passed NSA FOIA, RAM File, Engstrom to Meader, January 5, 1943, ‘re Turing visit and report and need to keep Bombe design flexible.’

  “in order to permit NSA FOIA, RAM File, January 5, 1943, Engstrom to Meader, ‘re Turing visit and report and need to keep Bombe design flexible.’

  “After the war Joseph Desch and Robert Mumma interview, 1973.

  Desch and his team PRO HW 3/164 7989, “Squadron Leader Jones’ Section.”

  7. Troubles with Adam and Eve

  As one of the first Phil Bochicchio interview, January 2001.

  In March 1943, Engstrom NARA RG 457, HCC, Box 1414, NR4584, Zema 34, 2479a, “History of the Bombe Project, 30 May, 1944”; NSA FOIA, RAM File, to Meader, January 20, 1943, ‘Desch’s newer Bombes should have one size wheel.’

  OP20G’s September 1942 memo NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 183, 5750/441, OP20G, “Cryptanalysis of the German Cipher Machine,” September 3, 1942. See also NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 11, 3200/54, Desch to Meader, October 23, 1942, ‘Maintenance Crew for Bombes.’

  More than twice as many Morison, Battle of the Atlantic, p. 410; NARA RG 457, HCC, Box 621, ACC7465 CBKJ18, “German Cipher Key Logs.”

  The destruction might Burke, Information and Secrecy, p. 292.

  The codebooks, plus Erskine, “Enigma,” p. 4.

  During tests in April Whitehead, “Cobra and Other Bombes,” pp. 289ff.; PRO HW 14/84, August 12, 1943, ‘Friedman’s Report on GCCS.’

  They instructed him NSA FOIA, RAM File, from OP20G to DNC, March 17, 1943, ‘Navy Contract Nxs 7892’; NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 183, 5750/441, Bombe Correspondence, June 3, 1942, ‘GCCS Informs OP20G short signal problem means critical need for four wheel Bombes.’

  Only one other company National Cash Register publications, Dayton, Ohio, 1943–1945.

  Thousands of different NSA FOIA, RAM File, Ralph Meader, Report to J. N. Wenger, Part 2, “Resume of the Dayton, Ohio, Activity During World War II”; Lou Sandor interview.

  “From an engineering Lou Sandor interview.

  Even when the secrecy NARA RG 38, Box 183, 5750/441, Joseph Desch, “Memo of Present Plan for an Electro mechanical Analytical Machine,” September 14, 1942; Author’s communication on British and American Bombe speeds with Ralph Erskine, 2002.r />
  The technical hurdles NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 39, 3228/2, Watch Officers Logs; NSA FOIA, RAM File, Enciphered Telegraph Link (incoming/outgoing), Washington-Dayton, Desch and Meader to OP20G, July 26 and 29, 1943, ‘Bombe Won’t Work’ and ‘Fast wheel is the problem.’

  “just got worse Bob Mumma interview, November 2000.

  Vince Gulden, another Vince Gulden interview.

  The idea was Dalton, Home Sweet Home Front, p. 35.

  “The boys in the foxholes Ibid.

  On a business trip Letters from Joe Desch to Dorothy, July 11, 1938, supplied by Debbie Desch Anderson.

  “Mom said more Debbie Desch Anderson interviews, November 2000.

  So had demands NARA RG 457, Box 81, SRH 208, COMINCH to Admiralty, “U.S. Navy Submarine Warfare Message Reports,” April 30, 1943.

  The M section NARA RG 457, HCC, Box 621, ACC7465 CBKJ18, “German Cipher Key Logs”; NARA RG 457, Box 117, SRH 403, “Selections from the Cryptologic Papers Collection of Rear Admiral J. N. Wenger, USN”; Burke, Information and Secrecy, p. 295.

  Message clerks started Kahn, Codebreakers, p. 440.

  With IBM already Interview and correspondence with Lou Holland; NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Boxes 138–39, 5750/325, “Japanese Weather Systems,” chap. 22, “Application of Rapid Analytical Machinery to the Cryptanalysis of Japanese Weather Systems.”

  Admiral Joseph Redman NSA FOIA, RAM File, Enciphered Telegraph Link (incoming/outgoing), Washington-Dayton, May 20, 1943, ‘Wenger, Redman coming to Dayton’; NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Box 111, OP20G War Diaries.

  Not long after lunch Phil Bochicchio interviews.

  While IBM could deliver Lou Holland correspondence, 1999–2000.

  “We concluded that Phil Bochicchio interview, October 2001.

  That first hit NARA RG 457, HCC, Box 621, ACC7465 CBKJ18, “German Cipher Key Logs”; NARA RG 38, Crane, CNSG Library, Boxes 111–13, OP-20-GM-1-c-3, War Diaries, May–June 1943, ‘June 22, 1943 first results from Bombe.’

  As Dayton entered NSA FOIA, RAM File, Enciphered Telegraph Link (incoming/outgoing), Washington-Dayton, Desch and Meader to OP20G, July 26 and 29, 1943, ‘Bombe Won’t Work’ and ‘Fast wheel is the problem.’