By Thomas W. Butler
What we in the USA refer to as a hurricane is known as a typhoon in the far east. In the Volcano Islands (Kazan Retto), of which Iwo Jima is a part. October is the month of the most frequent occurrence of these major storms. 1945 was an exception.
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By Bud Beck
It all began at Wahiawa in the later part of 1944 when section 3 reported to op 4 for the eve watch. The memorandum on the bulletin board glared “Volunteers needed for Island ‘X’ – sign up below” The memo was originated by CRE Schmelzer, The Pacific HF/DF Net Control Officer. It was common knowledge that Iwo Jima was the designated Island “X.” Missing at that time was a better understanding of the word “Volunteer.” CRE Schmelzer was to be OIC of Station X, but was later replaced by LTJG William Bobek. Iwo Jima was designated Station “AN.” When the USN station number system was initiated, the station designator was changed to USN 505. The list filled up fast and sixteen volunteers and the OIC were selected. They included:
Continue reading “U. S. Naval Supplementary Radio Station – Iwo Jima, 1945”
With a separate officer community now responsible for cyber warfare, the cryptologic warfare community must refocus officer develpment on signals intelligence and electronic warfare.
By Lieutenant Commander Enrique Galvez, U.S. Navy
January 2026 | Proceedings | Vol. 152/1/1,475
Cryptology plays a critical role in modern warfare. Conflicts in the Red Sea and Ukraine have reaffirmed that understanding and controlling what is in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum can be the difference between life and death. Paradoxically, this technology-heavy domain requires human experts more than ever. As technology advances at breakneck speed, the Navy requires distributed, tactical-level expertise to dynamically innovate, execute, and fight.
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The capture of Iwo Jima was a turning point in the Pacific theater, not only for its brutal combat but for its immense strategic value. Securing the island allowed U.S. forces to construct vital airstrips that immediately supported the war effort. The newly built runways enabled crippled B-29 Superfortresses returning from bombing missions over Japan to land safely, saving thousands of aircrew lives. The island also served as an essential forward base for Army Air Forces fighters—P-51 Mustangs and P-47 Thunderbolts—which could now escort B-29s deeper into Japanese territory, dramatically increasing mission success and reducing bomber losses.
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The history of communication intelligence (COMINT) operations on Guam began in March 1929 with the establishment of a one-man intercept station. The first operator arrived from the recently closed Shanghai intercept site. Although the Navy Security Group (NSG) had planned to establish a station on Guam as early as June 23, 1926, those plans were never implemented, and a 1928 outline of a proposed wartime COMINT network made no mention of the island.
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This after action report (AAR) provides great examples how radio intelligence provided indications and warning (I&W) to task force commanders during WWII. Throughout the report designators 8600J, 5135J and 5715J are mentioned. These designators were used to identify communications links, nets and networks that aided the intercept operators in managing the tasking, collection and exploitation of Japanese radio communication circuits. At the end of this report list the Japanese language officers, there assignment to each of Task Force/Group and where they received the language training. Although there were enlisted Japanese Kana Kata intercept operators on each of the ships, none are listed.
Continue reading “Radio Intelligence AAR ISO Operation “Musketeer Mike One,” Strikes on Formosa, Luzon and Landings at Lingayen Gulf”
Station HYPO 