During WWII, nearly 10,000 naval cryptologists deployed worldwide supporting every major campaign. The Battle of Midway in particular was pivotal: Due to the Navy's cryptologic endeavors, Admiral Nimitz knew that the Japanese attack on Midway would commence on 3 June. Armed with this crucial information, he was able to get his outgunned but determined force in position in time. On 4 June, the battled was finally joined. General George Marshall, the U.S. Army Chief of Staff, in his comments on the victory, perhaps said it best: “… as a result of Cryptanalysis we were able to concentrate our limited forces to meet their naval advance on Midway when we otherwise would have been 3,000 miles out of place.”
During WWII, nearly 10,000 naval cryptologists deployed worldwide supporting every major campaign. The Battle of Midway in particular was pivotal: Due to the Navy's cryptologic endeavors, Admiral Nimitz knew that the Japanese attack on Midway would commence on 3 June. Armed with this crucial information, he was able to get his outgunned but determined force in position in time. On 4 June, the battled was finally joined. General George Marshall, the U.S. Army Chief of Staff, in his comments on the victory, perhaps said it best: “… as a result of Cryptanalysis we were able to concentrate our limited forces to meet their naval advance on Midway when we otherwise would have been 3,000 miles out of place.”