In the months leading up to the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, few voices within the U.S. Navy spoke out with the clarity and conviction of Admiral James O. Richardson. As Commander in Chief of the U.S. Fleet (CINCUS) from January 1940 to February 1941, Richardson was uniquely positioned to assess the strategic posture of the Pacific Fleet. Yet despite his experience and reasoned objections, his warnings about relocating the fleet to Hawaii were ultimately disregarded—decisions that would have profound consequences for the United States and the course of World War II.
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In the context of the deployment of the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and its Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific, the United Kingdom has confirmed that it is spearheading a proposal for France and Italy to join in a series of coordinated carrier missions in the region—aimed at clearly demonstrating Europe’s commitment to the security of its allies. The initiative would fall under the framework of the European Carrier Group Interoperability Initiative (ECGII), whose main objective is to enhance the ability of European navies to operate together as part of a combined Strike Group.
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Prescott Hunt Currier was an American naval officer and cryptanalyst who contributed to American and British cryptographic cooperation during World War II and later gained recognition for his work on the Voynich manuscript. In 1941, Currier was part of a U.S. cryptologic delegation that visited Bletchley Park, where he contributed to early Anglo-American codebreaking efforts. He was awarded the Legion of Merit twice, in the Second World War and the Korean War respectively. He analyzed the Voynich manuscript in the 1970s, proposing significant structural insights that have influenced subsequent research into the manuscript’s origins.
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In an inspiring show of camaraderie, remembrance, and pride, the Smokey Mountain Chapter of the Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association (NCVA) hosted a landmark 2025 reunion in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Dedicated to preserving the legacy and heritage of U.S. Naval Cryptology, the event drew veterans and active-duty personnel from across the country, uniting generations of Sailors under a common cause: to keep the flame of naval cryptologic history burning brightly.
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Advanced intelligence helped the Allies turn the tables on Japan in this crucial World War II naval battle.
In May 1942, U.S. and Australian naval and air forces were facing off against the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Battle of the Coral Sea in the South Pacific. But in a windowless basement at Pearl Harbor, a group of U.S. Navy codebreakers had intercepted Japanese radio messages suggesting Japan was planning an entirely different—and potentially far more damaging—operation in the Pacific theater.
Continue reading “How Codebreakers Helped Secure U.S. Victory in the Battle of Midway”
The Battle of Midway, fought in June 1942, marked a turning point in the Pacific War. It was won through a combination of daring young pilots and the invaluable advantage of codebreaking. These pilots, trained at Naval Air Station Pensacola and its nearby outlying fields like NAS Corry Field, brought courage and skill to the fight that would shape the outcome of the war.
Continue reading “Wings of Youth and Codes of Victory: The Training and Triumph of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Pilots at the Battle of Midway – The Significance of Corry (Field) Station”
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